Night Hawks program offers after-hours child care option

Heartland Community College will be offering more support for students in need of child care while attending class. 

This Fall semester, Heartland’s Night Hawks program will offer after-hours child care for parents or guardians who attend evening classes on the Normal campus. 

“Finding and affording child care can be a major barrier for students who are looking to advance their academic goals,” said Amy Pawlik, Heartland Associate Vice President, Enrollment and Student Services. “Additionally, families facing finical barriers or those who don’t have access to a support system are impacted at an even greater rate, jeopardizing their likelihood of completing their coursework. By offering affordable option for evening child care via the already excellent resources coordinated by the Child Development Lab, we can provide more opportunity for students who care for children.” 

The program will be available from 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday and is located at the Child Development Lab (CDL). Families may choose to use the service for a short period of time to utilize campus services such as the computer lab, library, and tutoring, or they may use it to attend a course offered within the time frame. Parents or guardians must remain on campus while their child is at the CDL. 

Earlier this year Heartland was awarded $374,424.00 in funding via a Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant from the U.S. Department of education’s Office of Post-Secondary Education. The grant supports Pell grant-eligible and low-income parents attending Heartland Community College to either finish a degree they had already started, or start and complete a degree of their choice. 

Night Hawks will support several populations of students including degree-seeking students and adult education students, including our High School Equivalency and English Language Programs. 

Current or prospective students can learn more about child care at Heartland Community College at www.heartland.edu/cdl. Those looking to apply for the CCAMPIS support should contact the CDL directly through the website.