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A new child care center at CSU Channel Islands could help bridge a gap in child care in Ventura County, provide educational opportunity and help support students’ family care needs.<\/p>\n
This is according to a\u00a0needs assessment<\/a>\u00a0done in March\u00a0by the university with contributions\u00a0from Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks;\u00a0the Ventura County Community Foundation; and berry company Reiter Affiliated Companies. The report was released in November.<\/p>\n The project also has letters of support from other county organizations and public agencies. In a statement, Irwin said the Early Childhood Center project would rely on collaborative efforts from members of the community moving forward.<\/p>\n “I look forward to continued involvement in my capacity as a state assemblymember so that our region can fully support the early education of our most vulnerable children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The creation of the Early Childhood Center falls in line with the CSU Channel Islands\u00a0Graduation Initiative 2025<\/a>. Established in 2015, the initiative\u00a0focuses on increasing graduation rates and eliminating the achievement gap.<\/p>\n Attention to child care accessibility is essential to achieving these goals, the report says.<\/p>\n The center would also be a resource for farmworkers with young children.<\/p>\n “CSUCI is located in the heart of the agricultural landscape within the region, making (the center) accessible for both populations,” the report states.<\/p>\n A 2018-2019 report done by Reiter summarized that despite bringing in around\u00a0$2 billion in revenue to the local agriculture industry, farmworkers\u00a0“do not have the same access to educational advantages available” when their children are compared to other low-income children in Ventura County.<\/p>\n There are several factors at play here including cost,\u00a0lack of weekend care,\u00a0fluctuating work schedules, language barriers and just a lack of spaces to take children.<\/p>\n Taking this into consideration, planners are looking into alternative payment programs.<\/p>\n As for\u00a0the\u00a0course of study, CSU Channel Islands is the only university in the county to offer a bachelor’s degree in early childhood studies, which\u00a0adds to the pool of early childhood educators locally.<\/p>\n The center would provide a place for students to complete student teaching.<\/p>\n The university conducted a survey among students and employees\u00a0to ascertain their child care needs in March. About 26% of students and 41% of all employees, including faculty and administrators, responded.<\/p>\n About 26% of respondents have children.<\/p>\n “Whether or not respondents have children at home or if they anticipate needing childcare in the future varies significantly by university affiliation, age, gender, income and race,” survey results state.<\/p>\n About 41% of a total 2,155\u00a0respondents said not having on-campus child care had a negative impact on their education or work experience. Nearly 44% of respondents said they had “great difficulty” in finding care for a child.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s very difficult to take evening classes when your child\u2019s daycare closes at 6 p.m.,” one respondent in support of the center\u00a0said. “That is the reason that, in my case, I have not been able to take the classes I need.”<\/p>\n That concern of juggling classes and attending to their children’s needs was echoed in many respondents’ comments.<\/p>\nWhy build a child care center?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Needs assessment survey<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cost to build<\/strong><\/h3>\n