Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College receives Childcare Solutions grant

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College has received a $60,000 Childcare Solutions grant from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s Kentucky Student Success Collaborative. The goal of the project is to help student parents succeed in college by forming community partnerships, implementing initiatives, and forming strategies all aimed at removing barriers that student parents face.

According to an article on Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College’s website, Dr. John Thomerson, who serves as the college’s Retention & Resource Coordinator - SKY RISE Title III Programs, was quoted as saying of the grant award, “This grant represents an important first step toward addressing the childcare challenges our students face. We are committed to building lasting systems of support so that parenting students never have to choose between their families and their education.”

As part of the grant program, each college that has received this grant funding must complete five requirements. SKYCTC’s required steps include conducting a Parenting Student Needs Assessment to see what student parents need to succeed, developing cross-sector partnerships with childcare facilities and community organizations, creating a Childcare & Support Solutions Action Plan with actionable steps, launching a pilot implementation project, and creating a Final Report and Sustainability Roadmap based on the pilot project and what can be improved upon.

According to an article on the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s website outlining the grant project, Dr. Lilly Massa-McKinley, who serves as the KYSSC Executive Director and Assistant Vice President for Student Access and Success at CPE, was quoted as saying, “Last year, there were over 16,000 students working toward an undergraduate credential at a Kentucky public college or university while also parenting. This effort will help parents stay enrolled and engaged in school, which will ultimately benefit their children as well.”

Six institutions around the state were awarded this grant, including Morehead State University, Northern Kentucky University, Maysville Community College, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Dr. Chris George, the Director of TRIO Programs & Title III (SKYRISE) at Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College, noted, “This grant allows us to take a vital step forward in serving students holistically and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed.”

For more information about Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, visit its website.