Helping low-income parents attain postsecondary education through campus-based child care services
Texas Border Business
Washington — Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Filemon Vela (TX-34), and Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced a $1.5 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley through their Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Grant program.
The university will receive a $374,836.00 yearly grant over the next four years, totaling $1,499,344.00 in federal funds. The grant was funded through the fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriation bill, which funds the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Congressman Cuellar serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, and in FY18 the Committee increased funding for the program by $34 million compared to FY17.
This program helps parents from low-income backgrounds attain postsecondary education through campus-based child care services, such as the Child Development Center of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Child Development Center of UTRGV provides day care services to parents of children from ages three months to five years old. They provide a learning environment for the child that includes physical, social, emotional and cognitive development opportunities. CCAMPIS funding will support the implementation of student-parent mentorship programs and will also cover the cost of weekly child care services at the CDC for approximately 60-65 children of Pell-eligible families during the fall and spring academic terms, and approximately 30 children during the summer terms.
Congressmen Cuellar, Vela, and Gonzalez have worked to help low-income families in the area. Through their continued efforts, they have successfully helped secure this funding, which is a direct investment in the well-being of families in South Texas.
“I know firsthand the transformative power of education,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Being a parent is a wonderful gift, and it should not be a hindrance when seeking education and pursuing a degree. With the CCAMPIS grant, we’re making a way for parents from all walks of life to continue pursuing higher education and a career.”
Congressman Cuellar continued, “I am glad to see the programs we work to defend and fund in the FY18 spending bill benefit the people I represent. I congratulate UTRGV in securing $1.5 million in federal funds that will impact the lives of hundreds of parents at UTRGV by providing them a with an opportunity to care for their child while they continue to improve their families lives through education. I will continue to work to help secure more funding for programs such as the CCAMPIS program.”
“Every parent looking to support their growing families should have access to a postsecondary education,” Congressman Gonzalez said. “This new funding for UTRGV will open doors for parents and children in South Texas and expand opportunities for success through education.”
UTRGV said, “We are elated to be receiving the CCAMPIS grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. This is greatly going to impact our student-parents by providing year-round, campus-based child care services. Our goal is for student-parents to enroll, persist and graduate.”
For more information about this particular grant program click here.
To learn more about the Child Development Center click here.
