Financing Child Care in the United States - Ewing Marion Kauffman ...

ALLOCATING PUBLIC REVENUES HIGHER EDUCATION
SUNY AT STONY BROOK CHILD
CARE SERVICES (NEW YORK)
DESCRIPTION
The State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook
provides financial support to a campus–based child care
program for the children of students, faculty and staff.
Funding is provided by the president, the provost, the
university hospital and through student activity fees.
WHEN ESTABLISHED
Stony Brook Child Care Services first received support
from the provost in 1988. Year by year, additional support
was secured from other offices within the university.
ANNUAL AMOUNT
Stony Brook Child Care Services currently receives the
following contributions from university offices each year:
$55,000 from the provost, $50,000 from the president,
$50,000 from the university hospital, $17,000 ($8,500
per semester) from graduate student activity fees
(approximately 50 cents per student), $22,000 ($11,000
per semester) from undergraduate student activity fees
(approximately 50 cents per student) and $11,000 in
donations from faculty and staff (via the United Way
State Employees Federated Appeal).
The program secures additional funds from fundraising
events, the federal Child Care and Development Fund,
State University of New York central administration and
a collective bargaining set–aside from the New York
State public employee unions.
SERVICES FUNDED
Stony Brook Child Care Services currently serves 97
children, 2 to 5 years old, in four houses located on the
campus. A capital campaign is underway to help offset
the cost of building a new center (to replace the houses)
that will serve 160 children, including a kindergarten
classroom and a school–age child care program. The cost
of care is partially subsidized for all families. Only 58
percent of the program’s revenues come from parent
fees. Low– and moderate–income students and staff
receive additional subsidies from a sliding fee scale
established by the program as well as from state and
federal child care funds.
HOW FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
Funding from the provost, the president and the hospital
are awarded via contract. Student activity fees are a
grant. Except for funds from the provost, which are
earmarked for low–income families, all these funds are
awarded for general operating support.
POPULATION SERVED
Approximately 50 percent of those enrolled in Stony
Brook Child Care Services are children of students and
50 percent are children of faculty and staff. All families
pay on the basis of a sliding fee scale. An additional
discount is available for families with incomes at or below
$40,000.
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS
• Support for Stony Brook Child Care Services was built
slowly. It began with the Graduate Student
Organization, which initially included child care
subsidies in a settlement package that was negotiated
with the Provost following a student strike in 1988.
Building on this success the center began — year by
year — to request support from other parts of the
University.
• Stony Brook Child Care Services reports that it takes
substantial work to become an integral part of the
university. However, the program can now demonstrate
that the child care center supports every aspect of the
university’s mission, including teaching, scholarship,
academic excellence, research and community service.
The center serves as a practicum site for students in
Child and Family Studies, and four members of the
center’s staff have part–time faculty appointments in
that department. Additionally, the center serves as an
internship sponsor for other departments of the
university including: social welfare, linguistics and
nutrition. The local community college and high school
also place student interns and volunteers at the center.
Outreach is a regular, ongoing part of the child care
center’s work. Soon after a new administrator arrives at
the university s/he receives an invitation to visit the
center and learn about how it serves the university.
OTHER SITES WITH SIMILAR STRATEGIES
While strategies and exact sources vary from campus to
campus, campus–based child care programs throughout
the country receive support from the university
administration.
CONTACT
Lucille Oddo
Stony Brook Child Care Services
Daniel Webster Drive
SUNY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11794
Phone (516) 632 6930
Fax (516) 632 9419
E–mail loddo@ms.cc.sunysb.edu
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