For junior Sarai Embaye, the stress of the first week of classes was reduced when she found out she didn’t have to take her daughter to class with her.
Thanks to the Spartan Kids Childcare Grant, Embaye doesn’t have to worry about paying entirely for childcare out of her pocket. This fall, MSU received its third Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
For the next four years, the grant — known as Spartan Kids — will provide the MSU Family Resource Center with $210,452 every year to provide undergraduate students with childcare opportunities.
Each recipient is given $3,000 per year but is eligible for the grant for only one year.
“Before I had the grant, I was having a hard time finding day care,” said Embaye, a dietetics junior. “I had to take my daughter (to class) before I (had the grant). … Now I don’t have to take her with me.”
To be eligible for the grant, undergraduate students must qualify for the Pell Grant and receive federal financial aid. Without the grant, Embaye would be paying for her daughter’s day care service.
By having on-campus day care, she doesn’t have to worry about her daughter’s safety and the quality of her care.
“(The grant is) able to relieve stress of paying the bill,” Embaye said. “It’s an expensive bill every month.”
Universities are scored on a point system by the Department of Education based on student need, employment and the graduation success rate of past recipients. MSU Family Resource Center coordinator Lori Strom said she wasn’t certain whether the center would receive the grant this year because of the economy. When it was announced the center was selected, Strom said she was thrilled.
“It warms my heart to know we can make a difference for people,” Strom said. “We make it a goal to make them successful as parents and students.”
Strom said the grant can cover day care for about 65 children.
Several on- and off-campus day care facilities work with the grant and its recipients. Mrs. B’s Daycare, 2445 Dobie Road, in Mason, is one such off-campus location.
“It seems like Spartan Kids came to the rescue,” said Tameka Billingslea, owner of Mrs. B’s Daycare. “I’m happy to be part of program. I get gratification because they are finding quality childcare for their children and not settling.”
Since very few students receive the grant, Billingslea said she wishes more students could be helped because the program provides a positive opportunity.