Resources for Student Parents

Completing a college degree can seem like a daunting task and being a student parent makes it even more challenging.  Fortunately, there are some great resources for student parents.  On this page you will find a list of programs and services specifically designed for student parents.  If you have any questions this site cannot answer, email the alumni team at Alumni@admissionpossible.org

Programs on College Campuses

We are lucky to have two colleges in our area with programs designed specifically for individuals serving double-duty as both college students and parents.  Although each program is unique, they both share many things in common: one-on-one support for student parents, family friendly study spaces, knowledgeable staff that can refer students to helpful resources, community-building/support groups, etc.  To find out more about these programs, follow the links listed below.

Access and Success Program (College of St. Catherine): http://minerva.stkate.edu/offices/administrative/access.nsf

Student Parent HELP Center (University of Minnesota Twin Cities):

http://www.sphc.umn.edu/

The Jeremiah Program

A program designed to help single mothers break the cycle of poverty.  Those accepted into the program benefit from receiving affordable housing, early childhood education, life skills coaching and community living.  Among other things, applicants must be enrolled in a post-secondary or training program and have a child (or children) under the age of four.

To read more about the Jeremiah Program, it’s benefits and it’s requirements, visit the website: http://www.jeremiahprogram.org/index.html

Grants

The Post-Secondary Child Care Grant is sponsored by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and provides up to $2,300 for each eligible child per academic year for student parents attending a Minnesota public or private baccalaureate degree-granting college or university

To read more about the Post-Secondary Child Care Grant, follow this link:

http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?pageID=140

For a list of participating schools, visit the following site:

http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/sPagesGR/childCareSchools.cfm

A printable fact sheet about the Post-Secondary Child Care Grant can be found here:

http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/pdfGR/ChildCare.pdf

The Department of Education, CCAMPIS Grant is a federally funded child care assistance program that is available to Pell Grant eligible undergraduates at the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis Community and Technical College.  Students must have children receiving care in a licensed and accredited child care center. This grant resource can provide $1300, $1500 or $2400 per term, per child in child care grant assistance paid directly to the provider. Grant award amount is dependent on student income and age of child.

To read about the CCAMPIS Grant at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities visit:

http://www.sphc.umn.edu/grants.html

To read about the CCAMPIS Grant at Minneapolis Community and Technical College visit:

http://www.minneapolis.edu/prospectivestudents/financingyoureducation/grants.cfm

To apply for the CCAMPIS Grant at MCTC, download, complete, and return this form to the MCTC financial aid office:

http://www.minneapolis.edu/documents/students/postsecondarychildcaregrant.pdf

Study Tips for Parents

Finding time to study is difficult for the typical college student; being a parent makes the situation even more complex.  The following links provide study tips for individuals trying to balance family and educational responsibilities.

Studying with Children Underfoot: http://www.lsus.org/sdcc/adults/studying.asp

Studying in the Child Zone: http://www.athabascau.ca/counselling/child_zone.php

Fun for Less

Free Minnesota Children’s Museum Membership

The Minnesota Children’s Museum offers Access Passports – free 12 month memberships – for families who qualify based on income.  To see if you qualify and to download a Membership Enrollment Form, visit the Minnesota Children’s Museum website: http://www.mcm.org/membership2.shtml#accessPassport

Free Admission to the Minnesota Children’s Museum

The Passport to Play program allows you to check out a pass that will get you and your family free admission to the Minnesota Children’s Museum for a day.  Curious?  Learn more here: http://www.stpaul.lib.mn.us/programs/passport.html

Museum Adventure Pass

You can use your library card to check out a Museum Adventure Pass, good for two or four free admissions, depending on the location.  To see a list of participating museums, visit: http://www.melsa.org/museumadventurepass/

Health resources

Give Kids a Smile

Do you have a child or younger sibling who needs to see a dentist?  Give Kids a Smile is a charitable program that aims to provide low-income children with access to free quality dental care.  This service is for children only and the ages served will vary from location to location so make sure to ask about age requirements when you call to make an appointment.

When: Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2

Where: Call United Way 2-1-1 (just dial 211) to get a list of participating offices, then call a participating office to make an appointment.

Want more information?  Follow this link: http://www.mndental.org/public_home/about_us/give_kids_a_smile/

This is an annual event that takes place in the beginning of February