Like a proud parent, UC Davis is happily sharing the reorganized child care funding program’s “report card”:

In the program’s first year, the university provided child care support for 425 children of 324 parents who are students (graduate-professional and undergraduate), from the fall through spring quarters of 2013-14. The program provided child care support for 158 children of 120 parents during Summer Sessions.

“The first year was a real success, and we are very proud of the financial commitment leadership has made in support of our student parents,” said Susan Gilbert, associate vice chancellor of Human Resources.

The program works on several levels: enabling students to be successful both in school and at home, and furthering the campus’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

With a commitment by Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi to improve support and services for student parents, the university last fall consolidated information, application and service for its child care funding programs — once administered by three offices — under the care of Human Resources’ WorkLife and Wellness unit.

In addition, the campus raised the maximum eligibility age to 12 for all subsidies (previously, one program limited subsidies to children 5 and younger); expanded the definition of child care to include care provided by family (other than spouses), friends and neighbors, as well as after-school, camp and recreation programs; and eliminated a requirement for  graduate and professional students to be academic student employees in order to receive child care subsidies.

“Because of our united effort to improve services, we are able to collect important data about the student parent experience on our campus,” Gilbert said. “When we talk about growing a pipeline to UC Davis, it starts by identifying and helping the children of our current student population. They are the Aggies of tomorrow.”

As for the Aggies of today — the student parents — they are thankful for the support.

“I am truly fortunate to receive financial assistance through the subsidy program,” said Amanda Sanderson, mother of Bradley, 2½, who attends La Rue Park Child Development Center.

“This program has become an integral component of my endeavors to complete my college education,” added Sanderson, who said she expects to graduate in June 2015 with a major in mangerial economics and a minor in psychology.

“My son, Bradley, has learned so much at his tender age by attending La Rue Park CDC, a loving and educational day care." 

Other parents, in year-end evaluations submitted in June, wrote: “This program has been pivotal in my education” and “I could not possibly finish my Ph.D. without the assistance.”

The Student Parent Child Care Funding Program offers two subsidies:

• Graduate Student Child Care Grant — For all graduate-professional students with children 12 years old and younger. Grants provided to 266 students last fall through spring.
• Community Based Care Grant — For graduate-professional students and undergraduates, based on need, with children 12 years old and younger. Grants made to 72 graduate-professional students (who also received Graduate Student Child Care Grants) and 58 undergraduates last fall through spring.

Students have their choice of child care providers, including license-exempt arrangements (such as family, friends and neighbors, and after-school, camp and recreation programs).

Three-quarters of recipients who completed the program evaluation in July indicated that the personal choice feature enabled them to use child care best suited to their family needs and preferences.

“My son is able to attend the school we think is best for him,” a grant recipient wrote in an evaluation.

Another shared: “Being able to choose to have her cared for by a babysitter means that I am able to send her on a flexible schedule and she can get the care from someone I trust and know personally.”

Through June, the university provided grants totaling $910,320, while summer subsidies amounted to $106,000. The funding comes from multiple sources, including student services fees, campus central funds, federal grants and Student Housing.

As of early this month, subsidies had been provided to 210 students for 270 children. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

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