Campus Child Care/Early Education

Become a partner to benefit young children and families. One of the broadest goals of the Office of Child Care and Family Resources is to offer administrative collaboration, educational and professional resources, and financial assistance to University of Wisconsin-affiliated child care centers and to the community of campus families that they serve. We build support that allows us to respond to the needs of young children and their families based on research and best-practice models. Our partnerships with individual donors, alumni, associated organizations and foundations play an integral role in the success of our efforts. Leadership and funds routed to early care and education have a far-reaching impact on children’s development and limitless learning potential.

Science confirms what our common sense already knows — that investing in the early years creates human and economic capital, essential to successful futures. There is no doubt that access to quality early education and care is key to: 1) recruiting and retaining the best and brightest faculty and staff at UW-Madison; 2) ensuring that student parents complete their degrees; and 3) nurturing the essential family relationships that promote health and well-being.

100 percent of your gift provides direct support to programs, services, and campus families!

Five funds have been established to support multiple initiatives:

• New Campus Child Care Initiatives
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  New services and programs become a reality with the support of the New Initiatives Fund. This fund provides fiscal backing to major campus initiatives: new playgrounds with nature playscapes; expansion projects for infant and toddler care; and large equipment expenses that fall outside of a center’s budget. The annual goal is to raise $30,000 for this fund through individual contributions and our annual fundraiser, Jazzin’.

• Student Child Care Scholarship Grant
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  Student parents experience many challenges over the course of their university career. Multiple stressors, emergency situations (medical), or unforeseen events (change in family structure, natural disasters) can undermine their ability to complete their studies and/or cover the cost of their child’s care. This fund provides direct financial assistance to qualifying student parents. The annual goal is to raise $5,000 through individual gifts or fundraising initiatives.

• Connie L. Wilson Center Grant Fund
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  Connie L. Wilson, with her extended family, created this fund to support operational needs of UW child care centers. Connie’s experience as a budget manager on campus raised her concern about the cost of providing high quality care with a professional workforce. With staff salaries and fringe costs (93 percent) and 95 percent of the centers’ revenue coming from parent fees, there is little left to directly support the programs. This fund ensures that professional development activities with nationally known experts keep the campus early education workforce strong, credentialed, and informed AND that the ever-changing equipment and program needs of the center are possible. The annual goal is to raise $5,000 through fundraisers or individual contributions.

• University Staff Child Care Scholarships Grants
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  Quality early education and care is expensive, yet it has a dramatic impact on the development of young children. It is well known that children who participate in high-quality settings have higher language and cognitive skills, and that their ability to regulate behavior prior to public schools is an indicator of future academic success. This fund was established in 2003 to help University Staff manage the high cost of child care when emergency situations place unexpected financial challenges on the family. Each year, four to six grants are awarded to permanent University Staff families who demonstrate need. This one-time grant helps families get back on track, with the goal of preventing disruption in care for the child, and ensuring continuity in job attendance and performance for the employee. The annual goal is to raise $5,000 through fundraisers or individual donations.

• Lynn E. Edlefson Fund for Early Education Advancement
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  During her nearly two decades on campus, Lynn E. Edlefson initiated multiple new services, including infant care and the implementation of a campus master plan for child care expansion. The purpose of this fund is to support early education students who participate in full-semester practicums at one of the five child care and early education centers. Qualifying students may be eligible for a scholarship grant from this fund. In addition, this fund will support campus early educators and professionals working at the five child care and early education centers who wish to pursue career advancement opportunities in their field. Qualifying employees may apply for grants for professional development or for educational degree advancement.