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Childcare is an essential piece of the puzzle for employees and students who are parents. In this HigherEdCareers interview, we speak with Lourdes A. Rodríguez from The University of Arizona’s Life and Work Connections about the benefits and challenges of providing childcare support to students and employees.
Leah Jackson, HigherEdJobs: Please share about your professional role on campus. What was the path that led you to your role in higher education?
Lourdes A. Rodríguez, MS, Manager, Childcare and Family Resources at Life & Work Connections for The University of Arizona: I have over 35 years of experience in the early childhood education field. I have worked as a teacher, preschool director, and professional development trainer and coach for early childhood staff. When I began facilitating training for teachers and caregivers, I found a new passion and completed a master’s in “Teaching Adults in the Early Childhood Education Field.” After understanding the different ways in which children and adults learn, I moved to higher education where I support parents (both employees and students) to navigate the challenges they face with childcare and parenting.
Jackson: How does the Childcare Choice program compare to what you see other campuses offering? What’s unique about it?
Rodríguez: The Childcare Choice program allows parents to select a childcare arrangement that suits their needs and aligns with their preferences such as location, budget, language, environment, etc. It also “grows” with the family because it serves families with children from birth to 12 years old. When campuses offer only on-site childcare, parents experience the stress of long waitlists and limited options regarding fees, age range, and curriculum among other things.
Jackson: How is the program funded?
Rodríguez: The program is funded by the Employee Related Expense (ERE).
Jackson: Can you share a brief history of how the program came about? Why is providing childcare reimbursement, childcare services, lactation spaces, and parenting consultations important for not only employees but students?
Rodríguez: I believe the pandemic gave us the best proof of how the lack of childcare and support for both the employees and the students’ families can jeopardize not only the economy but the well-being and emotional health of everyone. The employees’ productivity as well as the students’ performance, decreased during COVID, as they had to provide care and support to their children alone and without help.
Many studies have proven the benefits in the children’s development and health of high-quality childcare, breast milk, and appropriate parenting skills. The university recognizes the importance of, not only the financial challenge of raising children but supporting lactation and the development of parenting skills. These benefits promote loyalty to the university among the employees and the students who feel valued and understood.
The benefits for the University of Arizona families align with the university’s purpose of “working together to expand human potential, explore new horizons and enrich life for all.” It also has an impact on the community’s well-being.
Jackson: Even though there are many benefits of childcare on campus, institutions do have to decide if it is the right fit for their campus and population. A CUPA-HR article outlined the positives but also described some of the challenges to be considered. What challenges has your campus experienced and how have you addressed them?
Rodríguez: The University of Arizona has evaluated multiple times the possibility of establishing one on-campus childcare and continues to do so. The cost to build, run, and maintain it are all considerations, as well as possible waitlists for new faculty members, employees, and students arriving from other states and institutions.
The 2021 Workplace Culture and Care Report stated that “Employees want flexibility in the form of their child and elder care benefits, favoring ‘subsidies for full-time childcare of your choice’ and ‘subsidized backup childcare’ over the more rigid option of ‘on-site childcare.'”
With this, and in the absence of an onsite childcare center, the Childcare Choice programs are available for employees and students and provide families the chance to select a childcare arrangement that suits their preferences (values, curriculum, location, etc.) and benefits the community’s economy by sponsoring local businesses.
Jackson: A recent Diverse article spoke about the challenge of paying for both college and childcare. What role can financial support for childcare play in retaining students and why?
Rodríguez: As everyone became aware during the pandemic, society cannot subsist and the economy cannot grow without a reliable childcare system that allows parents to fulfill their daily responsibilities. This applies to parents performing different roles: establishing a professional career, pursuing a degree, or volunteering for community and non-profit organizations. Regardless of their activity, parents cannot be mentally devoted and engaged to their duties if they are concerned about their children’s well-being.
Students who are parents also face the financial challenge of affording childcare costs. Higher education institutions that financially support childcare for their students facilitate these students’ engagement in their classes because they are confident that their children are safe. The larger the engagement, the better the odds of continuing to study until completing a degree.
Jackson: What keeps you motivated and inspired to work in the childcare field? What impact do you hope to make?
Rodríguez: I have always been a passionate advocate for the importance of high-quality early childhood education and the impact it has not only on the children’s lives but on the families’ well-being. Besides, I am a believer in being proactive instead of reactive. The more we support the well-being of children and their families, the higher the odds of having better citizens in the future and improving the well-being of our society. Studies have shown that when communities invest in childcare, eventually the cost of “remedial programs” decreases.