Columbus State selects operator, opens enrollment for new $3.5 million child care center

Columbus State Community College has selected an operator for its soon-to-open $3.5 million on-campus child care center.

The community college announced Thursday morning that The Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. will provide child care services at its new center, expected to open this fall.

“This is an ideal partnership to bring affordable child care and varying options for income-eligible families to our campus and surrounding community, in a relative child care desert and in a time of crisis for available child care for working parents,” said Columbus State Executive Vice President Rebecca Butler.

Community colleges: Columbus State to open $3.5 million campus child care center this fall

Butler said CDCFC has a "proven track record" of operating child care centers throughout Franklin County at its multiple locations and in partnership with other community providers.

"It enables us to rely on their operations expertise while integrating our deep academic knowledge in quality and the latest early childhood development education practices," she said.

Stacey Raymond, chair of Columbus State's early childhood development and education department, said CDCFC stood out as a prime candidate to partner with because of its focus on wraparound services for children and families.

Columbus State students will study, work in child care center

Carla Adams, regional director for CDCFC, said the agency's partnership with Columbus State is its first with a college.

Adams said the partnership will not only meet a vital need in providing accessible child care, but it will also be a chance to expose Columbus State students "to all facets of the early childhood business."

"It will be an invaluable asset to the students," she said. "There's a big difference between textbook versus real-life experience."

Adams knows that firsthand. She accidentally signed up for a course on child development as a college student and said it completely changed her perspective on working with children.

Raymond said between 10 to 20 college students will be involved with the child care center each semester. Students in the program are required to do three practicums throughout their studies, and Raymond said the center's programming will be aligned with the college's curriculum.

"We hope that this center will not only boost enrollment and completion among our students, but impact students across campus, being assured that students' families will be taken care of," Raymond said.

When will Columbus State's child care center open?

Construction on the center — which will be located in the college’s Center for Workforce Development building near Grove Street and Cleveland Avenue — began in February and is expected to open this fall. Columbus State is renovating existing space for the center using dollars from Franklin County voter bond-approved capital improvement funds.

The child care center will serve not only Columbus State student-parents and employees, but also other parents in the surrounding neighborhoods for whom access to child care is a barrier and Downtown commuters. Enrollment will first prioritize Columbus State student-parents, followed by employees, and any remaining availability open to the community. CDCFC will offer sliding-scale tuition fees based on family income for enrollment.

Other higher ed investments: Columbus State, OhioHealth partner to invest $120 million in region's health care pipeline

The center will have capacity for nearly 100 children in six classrooms: three infant-to-toddler rooms and three for pre-K instruction. The center also will have two large multipurpose rooms and an outdoor play area.

Adams said the center is beginning the hiring process immediately for directors, full-head and assistant teachers, as well as part-time student teachers.

Both applications to work at CDCFC’s Columbus State location and for parents to enroll their children are now open. Those interested can learn more at www.cdcheadstart.org.

Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for her Mobile Newsroom newsletter here and Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.

shendrix@dispatch.com

@sheridan120

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus State selects operator for new $3.5 million child care center