The Californer - Oxnard College Reopens Child Development Center to the Community

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Revamped Center will provide affordable childcare & scholarships to Oxnard families

OXNARD, Calif. - Californer -- Oxnard College is reopening its Child Development Center on Aug. 16 after undergoing renovations, expanding its hours and adopting a new curriculum. The Oxnard College "Little Condors" Child Development Center will serve preschoolers Monday through Friday, year-round, helping bridge a gap in Ventura County childcare services and providing much-needed support for family care needs.

Part-day and full-day childcare services are available to families in the community, while scholarships and priority are reserved for Oxnard College students. The Center's new curriculum will provide an innovative focus on dual language learners, outdoor learning and play, and STEAM experiences (i.e., science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).

"We are thrilled to reopen our doors to the community and look forward to providing high-quality care to working families," shared Antonio Frias, the Center's supervisor. "We are dedicated to serving those who have been impacted by this past year's unprecedented challenges. That's why we have developed an innovative curriculum and extended our operational hours to help working parents and to ensure children receive the best learning experience and care possible."

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The Oxnard College Center received a four-year grant of nearly a half-million dollars through the U.S. Department of Education's Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant. These federal funds will help provide tuition scholarships for Oxnard College students to enroll their children, enabling students to have their children cared for while student parents are in class or studying on campus. Additionally, one-time CARES Act dollars will also be used to support childcare this academic year and various federal and state programs will help subsidize tuition for low-income families, such as CalWORKs and Alternative Payment.

"We've seen first-hand how the pandemic has upturned lives and family planning," said Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College. "That's why we are delighted to reopen our Child Development Center to the community and provide scholarships for our Oxnard College students. We look forward to the Center playing a central role here in Oxnard for many years to come."

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The Center's two full-time teachers are assisted by OC students studying early childhood development and looking to pursue childcare careers in Ventura County. The Center will reopen with a goal of serving up to 56 children, ages 2.9 to 5 years old and expand its capacity in the future. The program aims to eventually reopen care to infants and toddlers.

The Center is open 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, to align with working parents' demanding schedules. COVID precautions are also in place to protect children, families and staff.

For additional information about the Child Development Center and rates, visit OxnardCollege.edu/CDC (http://www.oxnardcollege.edu/CDC).