Indian Hills Collaborating With Iowa DPH To Provide Assistance
Indian Hills
OTTUMWA — Indian Hills Community College is collaborating with two other community colleges and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to provide assistance to expecting and parenting students. Indian Hills, along with Des Moines Area Community College and Kirkwood Community College, will each receive $360,000 for a one-year period.
IDPH is one of 16 grantees to receive funding for the program intended to improve the health, educational, social and economic outcomes of expectant and parenting teens, women, fathers and their families.
“Expectant and parenting students have some unique challenges to completing their education,” said Darlas Shockley, Executive Dean of Arts and Sciences and Academic Support Services at IHCC. “At Indian Hills we are providing opportunities and funding to assist expectant and parenting students in achieving their educational goals.”
Mental and behavioral health services, dental hygiene services, early childhood education, tutoring services and transportation support are a few of the resources Indian Hills will make available to those who qualify for a portion of the grant funds.
“In Iowa, nearly one-third of mothers 24 years or younger in the state started college, but did not finish,” according to Addie Rasmussen of the IDPH Bureau of Family Health. “We believe this grant will make it easier for expecting or parenting students to not only attain their educational and career goals, but also focus on the health of themselves and their families.”
Questions about Indian Hills’ participation in the grant funding can be directed to Darlas Shockley at 641-683-5174 or Darlas.Shockley@indianhills.edu.
