Jacksonville, AL – Originally reported by JSU’s Brett Buckner, Jacksonville State University (JSU) has been granted a significant boost in its efforts to support its low-income students who are also parents. The US Department of Education has awarded JSU a $1.5 million grant to establish the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. This initiative will provide flexible childcare options for the university’s Pell Grant recipients, enabling them to pursue their degrees with the assurance that their children are receiving high-quality educational and social support at the on-campus Child Development Center.
The expanded Child Development Center, which opened a year ago, has been serving the needs of many students, faculty, and the local community. However, the new CCAMPIS grant represents an important step forward in making childcare services even more accessible and adaptable to students’ schedules. Dr. Christi Trucks, department head of Career Technical Education and Professional Studies and program director on the grant, expressed the significance of this initiative. She stated, “The CCAMPIS grant will allow for flexible childcare options for JSU students. For example, if a student only needs childcare on Tuesdays and Thursdays, that will be an option.”
The grant application was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Lynn Garner, assistant director in the Office of Sponsored Programs. She analyzed the data for project need, highlighting the increased population of parent students, many of whom are Pell-eligible. This need has grown alongside a significant portion of JSU students receiving Pell Grants. In 2022, 3,762 JSU students were awarded Pell Grants, representing 39 percent of the university’s undergraduate and graduate student population.
The Jacksonville area faces higher poverty rates, with 17 percent of its residents living in poverty, exceeding both the Alabama average (16 percent) and the national average (14 percent). The CCAMPIS grant program aims to alleviate the challenges faced by these students, enabling them to secure quality childcare while completing their degrees.
JSU conducted a comprehensive Childcare Center Needs Assessment, distributing a survey to the JSU community. The results indicated that 58 percent of respondents required childcare for their children, and over 63 percent needed childcare during regular business hours. The survey also found that 84 percent of JSU students who are single mothers were highly likely to use the services provided by the Child Development Center, emphasizing the importance of the CCAMPIS grant program’s resources.
Jennifer Mead, coordinator of post-award in Sponsored Programs, stressed the long-term impact of the CCAMPIS grant, stating, “JSU students who are parents can enroll their child in the quality programs provided by the Child Development Center, which will create a lifelong impact to be felt in their family for generations.”
The grant will be phased in over the next three years, with support for students set to begin in Fall 2024. More information and applications will be made available in the spring. Dr. Trucks expressed her enthusiasm for the program, saying, “We are thrilled to be able to support more students than ever before. This will not only include childcare options but also provide parenting classes and resources to student parents. The CCAMPIS grant is a big win for JSU and the CDC.”
