Supporting Single Parents in Career Technical Education
Career Technical Education (CTE) programs are increasingly focused on aiding various special populations, though it does not explicitly define single parents or single pregnant women. Despite this, supporting these individuals is crucial, given that many postsecondary learners are parents, with significant challenges such as accessing child care and balancing family responsibilities with education.
To address the needs of single parents, including single pregnant women, CTE programs can employ several strategies. Cross-agency coordination with organizations like Women, Infants and Children and health care providers helps identify and address specific needs of parenting learners. Offering flexible and accelerated learning options, such as online and hybrid courses, and credit for prior learning, can accommodate the unique schedules and responsibilities of single parents. Moreover, effective data collection practices, such as including parent status in student information systems, can improve support for these learners.
Additionally, providing practical supports like affordable childcare, lactation rooms, and parenting classes is essential for single parents. Financial assistance and tangible aids, including food pantries and transportation support, help alleviate some of the barriers these learners face. By leveraging various funding streams and institutional support, CTE programs can better serve single parents and support their educational and career goals.
CERRITOS COLLEGE RESOURCES
effective practices for single parents and displaced homemakers
Bakersfield College, Early Childhood Education Employment Readiness Academy
The program prepares students for teaching positions in private schools or childcare centers, specifically targeting single parents. It is a one-semester Employment Readiness Academy in Early Childhood Education, offering skills in child guidance, planning learning activities, teamwork, and infant/child care first aid/CPR. Students undergo a screening process, including background checks, and gain hands-on experience with mentor teachers in regional childcare centers, with the program consistently full due to its effectiveness.
San Diego City College, New Horizons Program Student Planner Document
San Diego City College’s New Horizons program created a planner to help students, especially single parents and displaced homemakers, manage their time and access resources like childcare, transportation, career development, and life skills. The planner includes a 16-month calendar, career and employment tips, life management strategies, and community resources, developed at minimal cost through a collaborative design process. Feedback from students using the planner indicated that it improved their organization, focus, and ability to plan their education and personal lives, leading to a third printing due to high demand.
Effective Practices for Special Population Students in California's Community Colleges
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