Students often face childcare as a major barrier to finishing school. To address this challenge, Dallas College launched Child Watch at its El Centro campus. A $100,000 grant from The Dallas Foundation’s Community Impact Fund made this project possible.

The program provides free, drop-in childcare for students while they attend classes. By reducing the burden of childcare, more parents can stay enrolled and move closer to achieving their academic goals.

Support Through Local Partnerships

Child Watch operates in partnership with the T. Boone Pickens YMCA in downtown Dallas. The facility does more than meet childcare needs. It also promotes early childhood development and offers enriching learning experiences.

The initial launch served up to 38 children at once. Over the first spring semester, the program expects about 75 children to participate. This combination of academic support for parents and educational opportunities for children creates lasting community impact.

Building a Sustainable Model

Dallas College plans to expand the program across other campuses. The program is currently available at the El Centro and Richland campuses and will soon expand to North Lake and Mountain View locations. Scaling in a sustainable way will help even more families. Parents will have better chances of completing their degrees, while children will be better prepared for school.

This investment does more than ease the path for parents. It strengthens the local workforce and helps position young learners for future success. By removing barriers, the program creates opportunities that benefit the entire Dallas region.

How You Can Support

The Dallas Foundation’s Community Impact Fund fuels projects like Child Watch. With donor support, these initiatives can reach more families and transform more lives.