Howard Community College President, Dr. Daria J. Willis, has unveiled plans to reopen the college’s on-campus Children’s Learning Center in collaboration with the Community Action Council of Howard County.

The center’s relaunch addresses crucial needs by reducing childcare expenses, introducing vital Early Head Start programs for infants and toddlers, and promoting degree completion among student parents in a college community of over 22,000 students, with 24% identifying as caregivers.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to Tracy Broccolino and the CAC, County Executive Calvin Ball, and numerous other champions who have made this day a reality,” expressed Willis. “This reopening ensures that young parents and their children have a supportive environment to work, learn, and aspire toward leadership roles within our community and beyond.”

Broccolino emphasized that the partnership aims to positively influence families and children for generations to come, underscoring the transformative impact of education and early childhood development.

The center, temporarily shuttered in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated budget constraints, received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2023 to facilitate its reopening.

This grant, part of the federal Childcare Access Means Parents in School Grant Program, brings the college closer to reinstating a vital support service for hundreds of student parents pursuing higher education in Howard County.

“Access to childcare is paramount for scholar-parents’ academic persistence,” noted Dr. Ball. “I commend Dr. Willis and her team for recognizing this challenge and taking proactive measures to ensure scholar-parents receive the support they need to succeed.”

#ChildcareSupport #EducationAccess #StudentParents #CommunityPartnership #EarlyChildhoodEducation #HigherEducation #CommunityCollege #ChildcareGrant #StudentSuccess #FamilySupport #CommunityImpact