Correction: A previous version of this article had a title that was not accurate. While the CARE program is only available to student parents who are single, the other programs are available for all student parents to apply for.
LBCC provides vital resources to its student parent population such as school supplies, gas cards, and grants through the CARE program and other resources like a lactation room and childcare provided on both campuses.
LBCC students, who are single parents and head of household, may qualify for a CARE grant by applying for Extended Opportunity Programs, otherwise known as EOPS, located in AA-1134 at LAC and GG-217 at PCC.
Deborah Boyle the CARE/EOPS program specialist explained what students can get out of the programs, “We cover a lot of different areas, personal development with the workshops and financial assistance with the grants. We even do field trips with EOPS. What is great for both programs is that we create a community.” Boyle said.
Meeta May, LBCC student and mother of two attends the workshops so she can receive grant money, “I like the workshops because I am majoring in psychology and there are a lot of different perspectives from the students who attend,” May said.
The CARE program, which stands for Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education, also supplies textbooks at a designated EOPS section in the libraries as well as ‘survival backpacks’ which contain school supplies such as a calculator, charger, and even stress balls.
Boyle is also on the planning committee for a regional CARE conference being held April 26 that will host CARE program students from local colleges like Rio Hondo, Cypress and Cerritos.
CARE students from each college will be able to network with one another while they hear from a former CARE student panel, keynote speaker and enjoy a continental breakfast and goody bags.
The conference, which is held every two years has reached its capacity, but CARE students are encouraged to email Boyle to be added to the waitlist.
Breastfeeding mothers who need a private and clean space may utilize the Mother’s room, open Monday through Thursday 8-5 p.m. and Fridays 8-12 p.m., located in room 1010 at LAC and room GG-117 at PCC.
“Last semester we had more faculty, this semester there are more students. I think they are all more aware of it now,” said Nurse Leti during her afternoon shift in the student health building.
The room, though designated for mothers, also serves as an “everything room” according to Nurse Leti, where students and staff may also use it as a breathing room or for any other health related concerns.
Parents with potty-trained kids from ages two to five, who have not been to kindergarten, may utilize the child care development center on the PCC and the offsite location for LAC at 4630 Clark Avenue.
About 12 years ago when the child development centers were being made, the plan was to serve infants, however, the expenses and regulations became too much for LBCC to handle.
Photo by Sabriyya Ghanizada.
The spaces now have enough capacity for their preschool license through the Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division.
For parents whose children do not meet the license requirements, Stacey Smith-Clark PCC child development center manager said, “We live in a city with a ton of resources. There are other agencies that serve school age children, such as the Boys & Girls club, YMCA and Jewish Association. Some of these organizations even provide transportation.”
Students in the CARE program may also earn up to $1600 in grants to use toward paying for their childcare.
EOPS Coordinator Deatrice Shernell focuses on resources for EOPS/CARE students as well as field trips that focus on arts and education.
“Student needs are our concern. The goal is to go over and above what traditional students need and ensure student success by bringing equity in addition to equality. We will always provide tools that are needed to help them succeed. That ranges from a scantron to backpacks, book grants and parking permits,” Shernell said.
To see if they qualify for the EOPS and/or CARE programs, students need their ID number and will submit a quick application, if students are approved, they attend a workshop and afterwards are able to utilize the resources provided.