Federal CCAMPIS grant will provide childcare assistance for students with young children

Prescott, Arizona – Yavapai College has qualified for a federal grant, enabling it to provide desperately needed help for college students with young children. 

The U.S. Department of Education’s 2026 Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program grant supports low-income parents in post-secondary education by subsidizing on-campus childcare services. “It will provide childcare tuition assistance to parents of full- and part-time YC students who meet Pell Grant eligibility requirements.” Yavapai College’s Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center Director Dr. Tara O’Neill explained. Eligible students can receive a stipend covering 75% – 90% of tuition costs, per child, at the College’s award-winning FEC. 

The award can be a life-changer for students with children currently enrolled at the FEC; students currently on the FEC waitlist; and other working parents who haven’t gotten that far. “Those currently on the [FEC] waitlist will be contacted for next steps,” O’Neill explained. “But we'd like to make sure all students know about this opportunity.” She believes many eligible parents have not filled out childcare waitlist applications, thinking tuition would be too costly. “So yes, if there are parents out there that aren't enrolled because childcare is a barrier, we’d like to reach them, too!” 

CCAMPIS is a federal program, funded jointly by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It supports low-income parents who are pursuing college or postsecondary education by providing campus-based childcare services for their children. 

At Yavapai College, early estimates project that the grant will serve about 32 student- parents per year, many of whom have children at the Family Enrichment Center. The total includes approximately six student/parent families from the Verde Valley Campus (an amount proportional to the student split between East and West Yavapai County). These families will be served through contracted providers in the Verde Valley. 

Eligible students must have completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and be enrolled in six or more credits. Candidates are encouraged to fill out an FEC waitlist application, at www.yc.edu/fec, and indicate that they are Pell-eligible. 

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, six baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit www.yc.edu.