Campus Child Care/Early Education
Become a partner…The goal of Campus Child Care/Early Education is to build support for understanding and responding to the needs of young children and their families based on research and best practice models of care. Key to the effort is building partnerships with individuals, alumni, groups, organizations and foundations that support excellence in campus early care and education programs. Institutions of higher learning play an essential role in establishing and promoting best practices. Leadership and investments in early care and education make long-lasting, positive impacts on children’s unfolding development and on-going learning capabilities while helping to recruit, retain and support faculty, staff and student families in their university careers.
In addition, your gift to campus child care also supports both undergraduate and graduate teaching and research activities within seven child care centers. 100 percent of your gift provides direct support to programs and services!
Four funds have been established to support multiple initiatives:
- New Campus Child Care Initiatives
How do new services and programs become a reality? Often it is with the support of the New Initiatives Fund. Thanks to partners, sick and back-up center-based care, where student, faculty and staff families can receive a reduced fee, was opened in 2006. This fund supports major campus initiatives, new playgrounds that focus on children’s learning outside as well as ongoing assistance to centers for large equipment expenses that are outside the scope of the centers’ own budgets. The annual goal is to raise $30,000 for this fund through individual contributions and the yearly Jazzin’ event.
- Student Child Care Scholarship Grant
Student families experience multiple stressors and emergency situations (medical or mental health) or events (change in family structure, natural disasters) that undermine their ability to complete their studies and/or cover the costs of their child’s care. This fund provides direct financial assistance to qualifying student parents. The annual goal is to raise $2,000 through fundraisers or individual contributions.
- Connie L. Wilson Center Grant Fund
Connie L. Wilson, with support from her extended family, created this fund to provide support for the UW child care centers to meet operational needs. Connie’s experience as a budget manager on campus prompted her concern that with 93 percent of center budgets spent on staff salaries and fringe costs, and 95 percent of the centers’ revenue coming from parent fees, there was little left to directly support the workforce or programs. This fund ensures that professional development activities with nationally known experts keep the campus early education workforce strong, credentialed and informed AND that the ever-changing equipment and program needs of the center are possible. The annual goal is to raise $5,000 through fundraisers or individual contributions.
- Classified Staff Child Care Grant
Quality child care is expensive, yet it has a dramatic impact on the development within young children. This fund was established in 2003 to help classified staff manage the high cost of child care when emergency situations place unexpected financial stresses on the family. Each year, four to six annual or emergency grants are awarded to permanent campus classified staff families who demonstrate need. This program helps the family get back on track and hopes to prevent disruption for the child and family. This program supports the child, employee and employer. The annual goal is to raise $2,000 through fundraisers or individual donations.
