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About CARE
The Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education
(CARE) program was established by AB 3103 (Hughes, Statutes
of 1982, Chapter 1029) to assist EOPS students, who are at
the time of acceptance into CARE are recipients of TANF and
CalWORKs, single heads of household with children under 14
years old, to break the welfare-dependency cycle by completing
college-level educational training programs, and therefore,
become more employable and economically self-sufficient. CARE
was initiated at the first state-funded program of its kind
in the nation.
In 2002-2003, nearly 10,000 students were
served through 108 CARE programs in all 72 community college
districts statewide. The fiscal year 2003-2004 state appropriation
for CARE is $12,221,000.
Through CARE, eligible EOPS students receive
supplemental educational support services, such as counseling,
advisement, classes, workshops, peer support, and networking
activities specifically designed for low-income single parents.
In addition, grants and allowances for child care, transportation
and books-supplies are provided to enhance the retention,
persistence, graduation and transfer rates of these highly
motivated, but academically high risk, students in their chosen
educational objectives, which include vocational certificate
or license, association degree and transfer options. Nearly
half of all CARE students seek to transfer to four-year institutions;
almost 40 percent choose associate degree objectives; and
one-tenth desire vocational certificates or licenses.
Unit Staff
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Cheryl Fong, Coordinator
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| cfong@cccco.edu |
916-323-5954
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Kelly Gornik, EOPS/CARE Program Assistant
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| kgornik@cccco.edu |
916-323-4281
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| Fax 916-327-8232 |
What's New (Updated
October 2007)
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for CARE support services, EOPS students must
be at least 18 years of age and a single head of household,
a current recipient of TANF/CalWORKs, have one child under
14 years of age, and be enrolled full-time upon admission
into the program. CARE also extends an important safety net
to students who meet EOPS/CARE eligibility criteria but are
ineligible for TAN/CalWORKs cash aid and ancillary services,
because they: a) have exceeded the 60 month lifetime limit
(adults time-limited, but children in household continue to
receive cash aid), b) are sanctioned by CalWORKs, or c) are
ineligible for CalWORKs due to prior drug conviction. The
CARE safety net offers these students vital resources not
offered by other programs for child care, textbooks-school
supplies, transportation and other services for the duration
that they are enrolled in college educational and vocational
programs.
Services:
Educational support services provided to CARE students include:
assistance with child care expenses for in-class and study
hours, textbooks and school supplies; transportation costs
and other educational support; personal computer access; computer
lab assistance; on-campus meal tickets; counseling and advisement;
classes designed for low-income, single parents; personal
development activities and/or curriculum (including self-esteem,
parenting, study skills, time management); group support and
peer networking; help from peer advisors; one-one-one tutoring
programs; and information and referrals to campus- and community-based
services or agencies.
CARE Student Characteristics:
Ethnic Minorities 70.2%
Females 96.9%
Age: Less than age 25 33.5%
Between ages 26 and 34 49.0%
Over 35 years of age 26.4%
More than 3 years on CalWORKs/TANF 44/5%
Enrollment Status:
New (first-time student) 19.3%
Continuing or returning student 72.9%
Source: California Community Colleges 2001-2002 EOPS and CARE
Annual Report to the Legislature (July 2003)
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