DCC Plans to Expand Childcare Access this Fall

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess Community College (DCC) is expanding its commitment to childcare support over the next year, with a new partnership with DAY ONE Early Learning Community (DOELC), providing college credit to successful apprentices pursuing early childhood education credentials and the addition of a dedicated infant care room slated to open fall 2026.

Expanding childcare options at DCC creates access for parents, who sometimes must wait until their children are school age before they can begin pursuing a college education. Student parents face significant time constraints, often balancing work, family and school making the pursuit of college credentials especially challenging, said DCC Student Resource Navigator, Whitney Morris.

“At DCC, we are always trying to meet students where they are and deliver the services in a place and time that’s convenient for them,” she said.

DCC currently offers several high-quality childcare options, including the Louis Greenspan Day Care Center (18 months to five years), the June Roush Pierson Laboratory Nursery School (ages three to five), and Universal Pre-Kindergarten for four-year-olds. All programs offer safe, play-based learning environments and exceed state-quality standards. Parenting students may be eligible for free or reduced-cost care through grants such as the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), SUNY’s Child Care and Development Block Grant and emergency support through DCC CARES, the college’s emergency financial relief resource. Astor Services’ contribution to the installation of an infant care room expands DCC’s commitment to supporting learners and clearing barriers to higher education.

“Infant care is a significant need in our community, and Astor has been working to expand services to this specific age group,” said Assistant Executive Director of Early Childhood Programs Kimberly Tsoubris of Astor Services. “It’s so important for families to know that their youngest are cared for by loving professionals in a safe environment. Reliable infant care ensures parents have time for employment, education and self-care.”

The new infant care room, which will serve children from six weeks up to 18 months, complements DCC’s existing support for parenting students, including a partnership with Poughkeepsie City School District offering Universal Pre-Kindergarten classes on campus.

The need for high-quality early childhood care extends beyond families – trained professionals are also in high demand. Through a new articulation agreement, DCC’s Early Childhood Program and DOELC will offer competency-based college credit to students who successfully complete a hands-on apprenticeship, allowing them to earn while they learn.
“DOELC seeks to disrupt intergenerational poverty in the community by removing barriers to train high-quality early childcare apprentices,” said DOELC Co-Founder and Chief Early
Education Officer Dr. Julie Riess. “This program stands to transform the lives of parents, their children, our community and beyond through creating access to career training.”

With these program expansions, DCC students will have access to care for their children from infancy through preschool, including nursery school and Universal Pre-Kindergarten.

“We know there are so many parents out there who are ready to take the next step and go to college,” said Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness Susan Rogers, Ph.D. “By providing safe, affordable and high-quality childcare on campus, we’re removing barriers to higher education and opening doors for entire families to succeed.”