Adult Student & Family Resources

We recognize how the adult student and student parent experience can be uniquely difficult. The virtual Adult Student & Family Resource Center provides vital information to students to help smooth the transition for parenting and adult students returning to school to earn a degree, acquire marketable skills, or train for a new career.

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Programs & Resources

Explore programs and resources below designed for:

  • Student parents
  • Single parents
  • Adults age 24+ who are low income, out-of-work, or homeless

College Resources

The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program supports eligible FCC students by providing increased access to affordable on-campus childcare services. Student-parents who are accepted into the program will receive a voucher to help cover the cost of child care services at participating childcare centers. The CCAMPIS program is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

CCAMPIS

  • Lactation Rooms: Located in the Student Center, Room H221A and in Linganore Hall, Room L227A. To reserve access to these rooms, please visit the 25Live reservation page or email livewell@frederick.edu.

  • Family parking Spaces: For expecting students or students with children. Located in the Visitor’s Lot, Student Center Lot (Lot 1), JBK Theater (Lot 9), Lot 5, and the Parking Deck.

  •  Family Study Space: The Family Study Space provides a safe comfortable place for student parents to study, recharge, and connect with each other while their children play. With an interactive display, pack-n-play, games, toys, and more, the space is suitable for children of all ages. Located in Annapolis Hall, Room A101.  Hours during the academic year, Monday 8:30-6:00, Tuesday through Friday, 8:30-4:30.

  • The Learning Commons: The Collaborative Space in the Learning Commons is a family friendly study space that is available anytime the Learning Commons is open.  The front desk has coloring books, toys, and games available to borrow while in the space.

  • Priority Registration: FCC Students who have identified themselves as parents/caregivers for children age 17 and younger are eligible to register for classes a few days earlier than the general student population. Exact dates will be posted prior to registration opening each semester. Please contact Jennifer Leonard, Adult and Parent Education and Outreach Coordinator, jleonard@frederick.edu if you have questions.

  • Highchairs in the Cougar Café

FCC Live Well is committed to holistic well-being, spanning physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental aspects. Our goal is to empower students in their academic and personal endeavors, fostering a positive and healthy campus culture. Our vision is to make FCC a leader in student wellness.

Live Well

The FCC Foundation provides scholarships to help toward the costs of college.  

Foundation Scholarship

The FCC Parents Lead program provides assistance to parents in the pursuit of a college degree. Designed especially for financially eligible parents, the program provides specialized curriculum and advising services as well as FCC Foundation scholarships for childcare and other costs while parents attend classes.

parents lead

Project Forward Step is a counseling, information, and referral program designed to meet the needs of returning adult students, with special services for single parents (including single pregnant women) and non-traditional age adults (age 24 and over) who are low income, out-of-workforce, or homeless.

Project Forward Step

Community/County Resources

The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) (formerly known as Child Care Subsidy) Program provides financial assistance with childcare costs to eligible working families in Maryland.

To be eligible for the CCS program, you must be a Maryland resident who is working/employed, in an approved training program or attending school. For families where both parents live within the same household, both parents must meet all eligibility requirements. View the CCS Program website to view the full list of eligibility requirements.

Child Care Scholarship Program

Child Find is the process for locating, evaluating, and identifying all children from birth through age 21 who are suspected of having a disability. Parents who suspect their child may have an educational disability should speak with staff at their child’s school. If a child is homeschooled, attending a parentally placed private school, or is 2 years, 9 months or older and not enrolled in FCPS, parents should contact the Child Find Office at 301.644.5292. Information regarding the Child Find process for children younger than 2 years, 9 months may be obtained from the Frederick County Developmental Center, 301.600.1611.

Child Find

Family Connects provides a visit at home with a registered nurse 3 weeks after the baby is born. Along with a full newborn assessment the family receives personalized resources that may include help with accessing clothing and diapers, connecting parents to mental health resources, accessing nutrition resources including formula and lactation support, and much more. This no-cost service is available to all families with a newborn who live in Frederick County and we support Families up to 12 weeks after the baby is born.

Family Connects

Generation Hope began in March 2010 when Nicole Lynn Lewis, a former teen mother who attended the College of William & Mary while raising her infant daughter, decided to put her dream of helping more teen parents beat the odds in motion. She envisioned an organization that would encourage and support other teen parents in their pursuit of a college degree. Nicole's life, and her daughter's life, was truly transformed by graduating from college, and she wanted to help others realize their full potential and obtain stable and successful futures.

Generation Hope Scholarship

The Maryland Department of Human Services will aggressively pursue opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide prevention services, and protect vulnerable children and adults. Snap benefits assists low-income households to have a more nutritious diet by increasing their purchasing power. Medicaid benefits provide comprehensive health care insurance for aged, blind, and/or disabled adults and families with low income.  

The Maryland Department of Human Services

LOCATE: Child Care, is a free and confidential referral service that will help you find the best child care for your family. The program is affiliated with all of Maryland’s regulated child care providers.

LOCATE: child Care

Financial assistance is available for YMCA memberships, childcare, and summer camp programs for individuals and families with financial need.

YMCA

Pregnant and Parenting Student Support Plan

Overview

As required by The Pregnant & Parenting Student Support Act and SB 0420, Frederick Community College has developed this support plan to ensure that pregnant and parenting students are connected with resources that can assist their academic success and overall well-being. This plan includes referrals to government assistance programs, on-campus and off campus resources, health care providers, adoption resources and full spectrum reproductive health resources.

Disclosure and Referral Workflow

When a student discloses a pregnancy or parenting status to faculty or staff member, that individual should refer the student to the Adult and Parent Education and Outreach Coordinator in the Student Success Programs office. The Adult and Parent Education and Outreach Coordinator is then responsible for:

  • Reviewing the student’s needs and eligibility.
  • Connecting the student with relevant on-campus and off-campus supports.
  • Ensuring clear, timely communications with the student about their rights and options.
  • Documenting the referral and follow-up process internally, not for compliance or to monitor pregnancy status, but to ensure each student receives comprehensive, coordinated support beyond what is minimally required.

If a student does not feel comfortable disclosing pregnancy or parenting status to staff or faculty, the student can directly contact the following offices to get the support.

Adult and Parent Education and Outreach Coordinator, Jennifer Leonard

Student Success Programs
Email: studentparents@frederick.edu | Phone: 301-624-2862


Associate Vice President for Title IX and Accessibility Compliance, Klaire Williams

Title IX
Email: titleix@frederick.edu | Phone: 301-624-2711

Pregnant and Parenting Student Resources through Student Success Program

Student Success Programs provides intensive support and resources for pregnant and parenting students during their FCC journey including:

  • Dedicated support from the Adult and Parent Education and Outreach Coordinator who provides success coaching, monitoring academic performance, early alert interventions and connection to resources
  • Family Study Space- a safe comfortable place for student parents to study, recharge, and connect with each other while their children play. 
  • Priority class registration
  • Family parking spaces
  • High chairs in the Cougar Café
  • Student Parent events and activities


If a Student Does Not Self-Disclose: Institutional Outreach and Access Plan

Recognizing that not all pregnant and parenting students will feel comfortable or safe self-disclosing, institutions must take proactive steps to ensure students can access support without disclosure. The following outlines an institution-led plan to reach and serve these students:

Plan Visibility and Awareness:

  • Include link to Adult Student and Family Resources website including the plan and student parent resources in the FCC Student Newsblast, Navigate360 Student platform, FCC website student resources menu and both printed and digital version of the Student Resource Guide.
  • Display flyers, postcards, QR codes, and Digital Signage with resource information across campus.

Integration into Orientation and Course Materials:

  • Present plan details on Go2Orientation, including a walkthrough of available resources.
  • Provide sample syllabus language for faculty to include information on The Pregnant & Parenting Support Act, SB 0420, and student parent support.

Advising and Counseling Interventions:

  • Train student-facing employees (such as admissions staff, welcome desk staff, academic advisors, financial aid officers, and success coaches) to ask general, non-invasive questions to identify potential parenting responsibilities (e.g., “Would connecting with childcare resources be helpful to you?”).
  • Ensure all frontline staff know how to direct students to the appropriate office for confidential support and next steps.

Anonymous Access Pathways:

  • Allow students to complete an optional form online indicating interest in support services without disclosing details to faculty or staff.
  • Advertise the centralized contact email and phone number where students can confidentially request support or ask questions.

Engagement Opportunities:

  • Host family-friendly campus events or info sessions that include The Pregnant & Parenting Support Act and SB 0420 resource awareness.
  • Offer parent student affinity groups, workshops, or drop-in hours to build trust and visibility of available support.

Through this multi-channel approach, institutions can ensure equitable access to parenting-related supports, reduce stigma, and affirm the rights of all students—whether they choose to disclose.

Accommodation Procedures

If a student is pregnant or parenting, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the following accommodations/Title IX modifications may be available at Frederick Community College:

  • Flexible attendance and due dates
  • Periodic breaks during class
  • Scheduling assistant with clinical placements
  • Access to a lactation space
  • In some instances a short-term leave of absence

*Students with pregnancy-related conditions can take leave for at least as long as medically necessary, then will be returned to the status they held prior to taking leave. Medical necessity is determined by the student’s own licensed health care provider.*

*Pregnant and postpartum students will have reasonable modifications— changes to policies, procedures, and practices to support equitable access to education. These adjustments will be facilitated by the Title IX Coordinator or their designee.*

*Students (and employees) have access to a clean, non-bathroom space to pump milk or breastfeed. Appropriate spaces are shielded from view and free from intrusion. Institutions are prohibited from requiring documentation in order for students to access lactation space. Lactation spaces are located in the Student Center, Room H221A and in Linganore Hall, Room L227A. To reserve access to these rooms, please visit the 25Live reservation page or email livewell@frederick.edu.

The accommodations available will vary from student to student. To determine which accommodations they are eligible for, students should take the following steps:

  • Students requesting Pregnancy, parenting or related condition modifications should submit a request using our Title IX Reporting Form.
  • If a student is unable to submit a report because of their condition, an appropriate representative of the student may contact the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator on the student’s behalf and the student may confirm the report when they become able to do so.
  • The Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator will engage an interactive process with the student/appropriate representative and College officials, including faculty members, Program Managers, and Department Chairs, to determine appropriate related services and/or academic modifications to provide for the student in light of the academic standards of the program.
  • In the event the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator receives a request for reasonable modifications that may be a temporary disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act, the request will be sent to Disability Access Services.

 Non-Discrimination Policy

In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the institution's non-discrimination policy includes explicit protection against discrimination based on pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or other related medical conditions. This policy applies to all students and can also be found here.  

This policy also includes:

*Protection against discrimination on the basis of past, potential, or current pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy (abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth), lactation, recovery, and all related medical conditions.*

*Protection against policies, practices, and procedures relating to students’ past, current, or potential parental, family, or marital status that treat students differently on the basis of sex.

Complaint Procedures

Students who believe they have been discriminated against or denied reasonable accommodations due to pregnancy or parenting status may file a formal complaint through the Frederick Community College Title IX grievance procedure by submitting the Title IX Reporting Form.

Referrals to Public Benefits Programs, Adoption Services, and Child Care Scholarship Services

Public Benefit Resources

Pregnant and parenting students will receive information and support accessing the following services:

Information and Referral to Adoption and Reproductive Health Resources

As required by The Pregnant & Parenting Support Act and SB 0420, this plan includes referrals to adoption services. Also, in alignment with Maryland’s constitutional protections for reproductive freedom, this plan also includes comprehensive, non-directive information about reproductive health services to ensure students have access to the full spectrum of care and options available to them.

Health Care Referrals

Highlighting Student Parents

College Success for Single Mothers

FCC is proud to be part of the College Success for Single Mothers Project. We collected data on our single mothers’ and student parents’ lived experiences and implemented action plans to expand services that foster student success.

Contact

Jennifer Leonard
Adult and Parent Education and Outreach Coordinator
 Jleonard@frederick.edu
 301.624.2862

Schedule an Appointment

Michael Thornton
Scholarship Program Manager
 MThornton@frederick.edu
 301.624.2851

 

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