University of West Florida receives $1.6M to assist student-parents with childcare costs
The University of West Florida Educational Research Center for Child Development received a $1.6 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to assist Pell-eligible and Pell-recipient student-parents with the costs of childcare.
This is the largest grant the university has been awarded to offset childcare costs for students. In addition to securing the grant, UWF’s Educational Research Center for Child Development also accomplished a perfect review panel.
The Child Care Access Means Parents in School, known as CCAMPIS, grant is helping parents such as Hanna Klump, whose four children are currently enrolled at the ERCCD while she works to earn her bachelor’s degree in exercise science.
Klump, who is a U.S. Navy veteran, decided to use her military benefits to enroll at UWF three years ago. At the time, she had one child. Since she became a UWF student, her family has grown in size. She says it wouldn’t have been possible to continue her studies without the ERCCD and this grant, which allows her family to pay a small portion of the total cost of childcare for her four children.
The UWF grant supports ERCCD parents with 50 to 90 percent off childcare fees. The total financial support is dependent upon several personal factors, including the number of classes the student is enrolled in, how many children are enrolled at the center and whether they are the single head of the household. Students must be in good academic standing.
Visit uwf.edu/childdev for details.
Pensacola City Council recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month
One of the country’s largest private employers of persons with disabilities – the Pensacola-based Global Connections to Employment – recently kicked off celebrations of National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a proclamation from Pensacola City Council.
This year’s NDEAM theme is “Advancing Access and Equity.” NDEAM is a time to pause and recognize the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities to ensure a diverse and inclusive American workforce. The essential roles that people with disabilities are filling is creating a high demand for their skills and talent.
More than 1,500 people across the country work for GCE. In Florida, 457 team members with disabilities work at a variety of sites, most of them in the Panhandle. Approximately 360 team members with disabilities live and work in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, at places such as Naval Air Station Pensacola, Eglin Air Force Base and LifeView Group. GCE will host employee celebrations at all of these locations.
Visit gce.org for details.
Find ways to help: New Baptist Hospital outpatient lab to be named in honor of Sandy Sansing family
Pen Air's Snack Stock initiative raises breast cancer awareness
Pen Air Credit Union is hosting Snack Stock, a community snack collection drive benefitting Ascension Sacred Heart Cancer Centers. They are inviting the community to drop off their favorite individually wrapped snacks at any of Pen Air’s 11 locations through Tuesday, Oct. 31 in commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness.
Pen Air is committed to providing comfort and support to individuals in the fight against breast cancer and beyond. Accepted donations include individually wrapped snacks such as chips, cookies, pretzels and more. Whether participants favor sweet or salty treats, their contributions will be a source of encouragement for those affected by cancer.
Locate your closest Pen Air collection site by visiting penair.org/Locations. For details, visit penair.org/Events.
Escambia County seeks volunteers for Contractor Competency Board
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to serve on the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board. Two applicants will be appointed for service beginning in December.
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the CCB are asked to submit a resume and cover letter to Jennifer Hampton, division manager, Building Services Department, 3363 W. Park Place, Pensacola, FL., 32505 or jahampton@myescambia.com by the close of business on Friday, Oct. 27. Be aware that all information submitted will become a part of the official BCC minutes and will be subject to public records requests.
The duties of the CCB include accepting contractor applications, administering contractor examinations, and issuing and recording Certificates of Competency and renewals; making an annual report; investigating complaints against contractors; and presiding over contractor disciplinary proceedings. CCB members serve a three-year term and meet the first Wednesday morning of every month.
Members receive $50 per meeting as compensation for their services.
Visit MyEscambia.com for details.
Take part: To make a Causes submission, email giving@pnj.com.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: UWF receives $1.6M to assist student-parents with childcare costs
