CEHD department chair awarded U.S. Department of Education grant to provide support to WMU student parents

Oct. 2, 2017

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Dr. Regena Nelson (Co-PI), chair of the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies, and interim chair of the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies, and Kathy Gilbert, manager of WMU’s Children’s Place Learning Center, have been awarded a $680,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The grant funds will go toward a project titled College Assistance for Parenting and Education (CAPE) and will help provide financial, academic and social support to student parents at WMU. This grant will provide reduced-rate child care tuition, academic support and social support. The community-based parent support program will provide networking opportunities through Family Fun Nights that are held once a semester, access to parenting workshops, and opportunities to engage in their child’s education. This project specifically address the needs and barriers most often identified by student parents: affordable child care and social and academic support structures.