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Yes, there is affordable child care for teen parents
Teen parents struggle to make tough decisions every day. But choosing between finishing school and child care for your baby shouldn't be one of them. There are a number of local organizations here to help teen parents find quality, affordable child care so they can stay in school.
The School District of Palm Beach County provides child care vouchers to students enrolled at its schools and at some charter schools. Vouchers vary depending on your child's age, the child care provider you select, and whether the provider is licensed or accredited. You can choose any provider in the county, but you must pay the difference if any amount is not covered by the voucher because of these factors.
To be eligible for the voucher, the student must enroll in a 1/2 credit parenting skills course offered through Palm Beach Virtual School, says Amy Crease, resource teacher for the district’s Department of Safe Schools Teenage Parent Program.
The School District of Palm Beach County provides child care vouchers to students enrolled at its schools and at some charter schools. Vouchers vary depending on your child's age, the child care provider you select, and whether the provider is licensed or accredited. You can choose any provider in the county, but you must pay the difference if any amount is not covered by the voucher because of these factors.
To be eligible for the voucher, the student must enroll in a 1/2 credit parenting skills course offered through Palm Beach Virtual School, says Amy Crease, resource teacher for the district’s Department of Safe Schools Teenage Parent Program.
“My office must receive a copy of the baby’s birth certificate, and a child care voucher is issued for the school year,” Crease says. “The only other requirement is that the student is attending school and earning credits toward graduation. Teenage parents who are not in middle or high school are referred to our local Early Learning Coalition for access to subsidized child care (Florida’s School Readiness Program), the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program and other valuable community resources.”
Call the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County's Child Care Resource and Referral team for more information: 561-514-3300.
- To access a Children’s Services Council scholarship for child care: Your family must be either referred to the Early Learning Coalition from a Healthy Beginnings entry agency, such as Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County or HomeSafe; or referred from a BRIDGES of Palm Beach County site; or referred from a specific program listed here.
SOURCE:
• Amy Crease, resource teacher, The School District of Palm Beach County’s Department of Safe Schools