Moving the Needle on Institutional Policies & Practices to Support Student Parents Presenters: o Nyeeyah Waldron, MPP Spokeswoman o Dr. Rita Fields, Associate Professor, Madonna University, and MPP Spokeswoman o Beth Sullivan, Staff, Center for the Education of Women, University of Michigan

My Journey…………

Why Should Improving Support Structures for Student Parents Matter to Your Institution? Enrollment Numbers!

Why Should Improving Support Structures for Student Parents Matter to Your Institution? Diversity!

Why Should Improving Support Structures for Student Parents Matter to Your Institution?  The Economy! The education you provide student parents is important to the economic advancement of Michigan families and the State  Graduation Rates! Student parents can be some of your best students!

Unique Challenges that Student Parents Face Student parents are more likely than non-parenting students to:  Be poor  Work full time  Be less prepared and supported in attending college  Have less free time to develop supportive personal connections

Key Components of a Successful Student Parent Support Program 1. Academic & social supports to transition into college, persist, & graduate 2. Childcare services & subsidies 3. Financial assistance & education 4. Affordable housing 5. Health services & insurance

My Journey High School dropout Homeless Pregnant Mother College student The red briefcase

Academic & Social Supports Outreach to identify students who are parents Parent-specific class offerings Mentoring, peer groups, & coaching Specialized academic advising Counseling services (Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence Incentivize service use

Childcare Services & Subsidies Expanding childcare services on campus Refer to off-campus providers Special programming to supplement traditional child care offerings Provide childcare subsidies or tuition grants through Financial Aid office Varied college and non-college funding sources State childcare subsidies: Michigan’s Child Development & Care program Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program

Financial Assistance & Education Help student parents avoid relying too heavily on loans Encourage Work-Study jobs over off-campus work Pregnancy & Parental Leave Accommodation policy Provide financial literacy education (e.g., CashCourse.org) Cash assistance from state Family Independence Program Earned Income Tax Credits

Affordable Housing On-campus family housing College-run residential programs for student parents and their families Residential programs through public-private-university partnerships

Health Services & Insurance On-campus health clinics - typically just for adolescent or adult care Michigan’s low-cost health insurance options: Medicaid Healthy Michigan Plan MIChild & Healthy Kids Children’s Special Health Care Services Free clinics and public health departments

Small Group Discussion: What strategies can be used to get upper level support for student parent initiatives at your institution?

Strategies to Build & Improve Your Student Parent Program 1.Proactively & systematically identify student parents 2.Collaborate & refer 3.Make student parent resource information easily accessible 4.Address culture & climate, not just visible policies & programs

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Strategy for Designing these Programs. Just Use What You’ve Got!