Amarillo College Awarded $1.3 Million Grant to Help Student Parents Access Child Care

Amarillo College has been awarded a $1.3 million federal grant to help student parents access affordable child care, reducing a barrier that can make it difficult to remain enrolled and complete a college degree or credential.

The four-year Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant will provide child care assistance and resources to eligible AC students now through 2030.

“We want to remove barriers that can keep student parents from completing their education,” said Laura Boatright, AC’s coordinator of the Single Parent Success Program. “Access to affordable child care can make a tremendous difference in their ability to stay enrolled and reach their goals.”

The grant is expected to help at least 50 student parents during the four-year period. AC previously administered a CCAMPIS grant from 2020 to 2024 and will build on that experience through CampusRoots, which helps eligible student parents access child care so they can persist and complete their education.

“This grant demonstrates Amarillo College’s commitment to our student parents and to helping them persist and complete their education,” said Jacqui Jones, AC’s executive director of Grant Administration and Compliance.

CampusRoots will help student parents find available care through licensed child care providers in the community. AC is also exploring partnerships with providers in Dumas and Hereford to extend assistance to student parents in those communities.

The program is designed to help student parents balance family responsibilities with their educational goals. Participants must meet federal financial aid and academic eligibility requirements and complete the required application process.

This federal program supporting child care access serves eligible student parents. The award is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.

How to Apply

Amarillo College students interested in child care assistance through CampusRoots should contact Laura Boatright, CampusRoots coordinator, or ARC services for information about eligibility, available assistance and the application process. 

For more information, contact the CampusRoots team at ccampis@actx.edu or call (806) 371-5255 or (806) 345-5689 or AC’s Advocacy and Resource Center at thearc@actx.edu or call (806) 371-5446.