Sinclair Receives $3.2M Federal CCAMPIS Grant to Significantly Expand Child Care Support for Student-Parents

Sinclair Community College has been awarded a four-year, $3,233,724 federal grant through the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education.

Representing a 46% increase over Sinclair’s current CCAMPIS funding, the award covers the project period from October 2026 through September 2030. Out of nearly 300 nationwide applicants, only 40 institutions received funding. Sinclair is proud to be the only institution in Ohio to receive an award in this funding cycle, with its $3,233,724 grant ranking as the third largest in the entire country.

Affordable childcare remains a significant barrier to higher education for many student-parents. According to Sinclair’s 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey, 26% of students identify as parents, and 23% of surveyed student-parents reported missing at least one day of class due to childcare challenges.

"This reflects a strong proposal, an incredible Grants team, the support of leadership, and our shared commitment to removing barriers for student-parents,” said Dr. Steve Johnson, President & CEO at Sinclair Community College. "We are incredibly proud of what we accomplished together and even more excited about what this investment will allow us to do for Sinclair students and their families over the next four years."

This major federal investment is designed around a clear theory of change: when student-parents have access to affordable, reliable, high-quality childcare and coordinated support, they are better positioned to stay enrolled, complete their credentials, and achieve long-term family economic mobility. At the same time, their children benefit from stable, developmentally appropriate early learning environments.

Over the next four years, the project will provide approximately $1.8 million in direct childcare subsidies to low-income, Pell-eligible student-parents enrolled in degree-seeking programs at Sinclair. Overall, the program anticipates serving:

• Approximately 200 or more student-parents each year.
• Approximately 114 children each year with direct childcare subsidies.

Additionally, a dedicated Student Success Coach funded by the grant will support Pell-eligible parenting students beyond those receiving direct childcare subsidies, helping them navigate alternative childcare resources, public funding, and other campus and community services. The funding also allows Sinclair to increase staff hours to effectively manage and expand these vital services.

With this increased funding, Sinclair will expand the number of childcare subsidies available for student-parents who have children enrolled in local partner Mini University Daycare Centers:

• Early Childhood Education Center: Located on Sinclair’s downtown Dayton campus.
• Mini University at the Hope Center for Families: Located less than three miles from the downtown campus.

“The CCAMPIS grant is transformational for Sinclair and The Hope Center for Families,” said Dr. Jessica Minor, Chair of the Education Department at Sinclair College. “It removes a major barrier for our student-parents by making high-quality, affordable childcare possible, so they can stay in school, complete their programs, and build brighter futures for their families.”

Together, these two centers provide more than 240 childcare slots and serve children from infancy through age five. Both facilities are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and proudly hold Ohio’s highest Step Up to Quality rating: Gold.

For more information about Sinclair Community College and its support services for student-parents, visit sinclair.edu.