Title: On-Campus Collaboration and Cooperation to
Provide Child Care Through CalWORKs
College: West Hills Community College District
College Contact:
Cathy Barabe,
Director Grants, Research and Planning
300 Cherry Lane, Coalinga, CA 93210
(559) 934-2147
cathybarabe@westhillscollege.com
Description:
This practice
provides quality childcare, parenting workshops and consistent
support to single parents while they attend college to gain job
skills. Unlike many community colleges, West Hills Community College
District is able to utilize all its CalWORKs childcare dollars
because of close linkages and communication between the campus Child
Development Centers and staff who are identified to serve CalWORKs
participants. On each college campus, counselors and financial aid
advisors are assigned to assist CalWORKs students. These staff
members provide information and linkages to the colleges’ Child
Development Centers located on each campus. CalWORKs students have
priority registration for their children and the Child Development
Director works closely with the CalWORKs program to utilize
Chancellor Office CalWORKs funding to support these families while
the Single Parent attends school. The College realizes it cannot
serve these students unless their children are enrolled in stable
childcare services.
To make the program work there must be collaboration among college
Counselors, Financial Aid Advisors, and Site Supervisors for each
Child Development Center. CalWORKs students often need structured
support. And must be lead to information and campus contacts.
Monthly meetings between Child Development Center Supervisors and
CalWORKs campus support staff to discuss access and procedures to
enroll children in Child Development Centers have contributed to the
success of the program.