Haverhill, MA (January 3, 2022) Nationally, one in four community college students is the parent of a child under the age of 18 and, at Northern Essex Community College, the statistics are similar.

That’s why the college, in partnership with the Haverhill YMCA, is launching a pilot program offering free drop-in child care for students with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, beginning in January, on the Haverhill Campus. Thanks to CARES Act Funding and the NECC Fund, students—and faculty and staff—will be able to access up to eight hours a week of free child care while they participate in on campus classes and activities. The child care will be available Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, and parents must enroll two weeks in advance since space is limited to 15 spots per hour.

“Having drop in child care available will help relieve some of the stress on our students who are parents, allowing them to focus on their studies without the additional burden of securing quality child care, said Michael McCarthy, NECC’s vice president of administration. “We also hope it will give more of them the flexibility to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, and student government.”

Iseline Mendoza and her two-year-old son.

Iseline Mendoza of Lawrence, a recent accounting graduate and past president of the Student Government Association (SGA), would typically bring her two-year-old son to the weekly SGA meetings. “I think the school saw from my example that it was a need,” she says. “Because we’re a community college and many students come in years after high school, there is a great number of students with children.”

This is a pilot program, and, if successful, the college will consider extending it. The Haverhill YMCA has been offering early education programs on NECC’s Haverhill Campus since January of 2021. Open to Northern Essex faculty, staff, and student families and community families, the child care center is located in the Sport and Fitness Center on the college’s Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St, Haverhill.

“We could not be more excited to deepen our partnership with NECC while providing more vital child care services to the Greater Haverhill Community.  The need for child care continues to grow in our service area and our Y has a long standing commitment to ensuring families have access to quality and affordable care for their children.  This is a wonderful extension of that commitment.” said Tracy Fuller, regional executive director, Haverhill YMCA.

Parents who are interested in the new free drop-in child care, can contact Julie Jordan of the Haverhill YMCA, jordanj@northshoreymca.org

NECC’s spring semester begins January 19. For additional information, contact Enrollment Services, 978 556-3700 or admissions@necc.mass.edu.

Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers approximately 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,000 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. For over 150 years, the YMCA of the North Shore has been strengthening the foundations of community for more than 50,000 members it serves in 26 cities and towns. YMCA of the North Shore is the 37th largest YMCA out of 2,800 Ys nationwide. We nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support our neighbors; regardless of age, race, ethnicity or socio-economic background. Visit www.northshoreymca.org