Students with Children

Workshop
University of Michigan
Counseling & Psychological Services
Presented by
Beth Feldkamp, BSW, MSW Intern
Welcome Everyone!!!
Introductions

Beth Feldkamp, BSW

Full time MSW Student focused on Community Organization

Intern at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Single mother of three daughters

16,15 and 9 years old

Youngest is on the spectrum

First generation college student

Today’s Agenda
Students with Children and why the focus on this workshop on this population

Statistics

Policies- Title IX

Healthy Balance

Time Management

Resources

Q&A
Why focus on Students with Children?
Make up a substantial portion of the college student population
Underrepresented
Often feel isolated on campus
Dual roles/Multiple Identities
Parents first, Students second
Placed in nontraditional student category
● needs vary greatly across nontrad populations
Statistics:
4.8 million students enrolled in postsecondary education programs in
the United States are raising a dependent child

25.9 percent of all students

1 in 4 students
71% are female
43% are single mothers
Student with Children Policies
Title IX- Pregnant and Parenting Students
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy, parenting and all
related conditions, such as abortion—in educational programs and activities that get
federal funding.

This means that schools must give all students who might be, are, or have been
pregnant the same access to school programs and educational opportunities that
other students have.

Your professors or administrators should not tell you that you have to drop out of
your classes or program or change your educational plans due to your pregnancy

http://nwlc.org/resources/pregnant-and-parenting-students-rights-faqs-college-
and-graduate-students/
Students with Children
Raising children is a joyful and rewarding experience.

It can also be a demanding and challenging job, especially when you’re juggling
multiple roles.

Parent

Daughter/son

Partner

Student

Friend

Employee
Discussion
Share an experience of being a parent and a student

In or out of the classroom

Experience of navigating the system

Life Balance
Sadly, there is no magic formula…

Balance looks different for everyone

Has to work best for YOU

Manageable

https://youtu.be/S0699FMsgK4

Voice, Validate and Victory

https://youtu.be/Ovw21jOQSpo
Time Management- Where does all the time go?
Time Wheel
Activity- Time Wheel
Complete the wheel based on your normal weekday activities

● Each portion of the wheel represents one hour

○ Can break down hours if needed

What does your wheel look like
● An important part of time management is taking care of
yourself so that you can attend to the many things you have to
do . . . Good stress management is important!

There are only 24 hrs in a day and you need to decide how you are
going to use that time (prioritize what needs to get done).
Survival Tips for Students with Children
Schedule, Simplify and Strategize
Schedule, Schedule, Schedule!!!
Plan for at least a semester at a time
Weekly update for changes and additions
Secure Reliable childcare prior to the beginning of each semester
Have a plan B in place if possible
Attendance is important
Use nap or alone time wisely
The quiet time can be a great time to catch up on some reading or emails that you have been
waiting to return
Survival Tips Continued
Establish your support network
Get everyone on board with your schedule in advance and as changes occur
Evaluate your time management skills and work on issues that you know may arise
Use tech tools to help- online calendars allow you to merge more than one calendar together
to avoid conflicts
Establish good study habits
Avoid cramming- Do a little each day
Quiet place and time
Flashcards
Review taped lectures
DO NOT FORGET PLAY TIME!!
SELF-CARE, SELF-CARE, SELF-CARE
Summary of time use- handout
Tips for Stress Management
Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning.
Avoid procrastination.
Unplug from your phone when relaxing.
Try to get at least fifteen minutes of physical activity a day.
Include your child- great time to have a conversation
Do one thing at a time.
Eliminate destructive self-talk.
Get enough sleep.
Be aware of the food you eat.
Take part in spiritual practices.
Talk it out!
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
CAPS location and hours:
3100 Michigan Union (third floor)
Mon-Thurs, 8a-7p, Fri, 8a-5p (during academic year)
734.764.8312
https://caps.umich.edu
Mitalk.umich.edu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf70grXzeBc
https://www.facebook.com/umichCAPS/
CAPS Services
CAPS provides:
Clinical services (initial consultation), psychiatric evaluation and screening
confidential, brief (no set limit)individual and couples solution-focused therapy
Group Therapy
Outreach & education
Training for advanced graduate and medical students in the mental health
fields
Crisis walk-in
NO cost to currently enrolled U of M students
CAPS WELLNESS ZONE

Drop in and relax

Massage chairs
Light therapy
Xbox Kinect
Yoga mats
Meditation cushions
Other On Campus Resources
● Center for the Education of Women (CEW):

○ 330 E. Liberty Street. Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2274

○ Counseling appointments are available by appointment by calling 734.764.6360

■ MONTS Group

● Work-Life Resource Center- Human resources:

○ https://hr.umich.edu/benefits-wellness/family/work-life-resource-center

■ Childcare resources/lactation room information

● Students with Children Website- http://studentswithchildren.umich.edu/

Local Off Campus Resources
Washtenaw County Family Resources

http://www.ewashtenaw.org/services_for/families.html

Resource links for agencies such as; WIC, Child Care Network, 211, HeadStart, Project Fresh and
many more

Ann Arbor YMCA

400 West Washington Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 (734) 996-9622

https://www.annarborymca.org/

Youth and Adult activities, summer camps, teen programs and more
Action Steps for Students with Children
Provide more forums for student parents to discuss issues they are
currently experiencing

Student Organization

Create an on campus space for Students with Children

Family friendly space

Family Friendly events

Specifically focused for children

Comments, Discussion and Questions
Thank you for coming!!!

Feel free to contact me

Beth Feldkamp
bafeld@umich.edu
Office Hours- Tuesdays 12pm-2pm
SSW-B696
References
Cew.umich.edu,. (2015). Student Parents | Center for the Education of Women. Retrieved 30 November 2015, from
http://www.cew.umich.edu/action/campusadvo/stuparents

Caps.umich.edu,. 'About CAPS | U-M Counseling And Psychological Services'. N.p., 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Emich.edu,. (2015). Eastern Michigan University: Diversity & Community Involvement. Retrieved 16 November 2015, from
http://www.emich.edu/wcen/studentswhoareparents.php

http://www.mycutegraphics.com/graphics/graduation/kids-graduation.html

Institute for Women's Policy Research,. (2013). Strategies for Supporting Student Parent Success in Postsecondary Education. Washington: Institute for Women's
Policy Research.
Msu.edu,. (2015). Student Parents on a Mission - Michigan State University. Retrieved 13 November 2015, from https://www.msu.edu/user/studentp/

Northwestern.edu,. (2015). Task Force Formed On Graduate Students with Children: Northwestern University News. Retrieved 14 November 2015, from
http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2015/10/task-force-grad-students-with-families.html

Singleparents.org.ohio-state.edu,. (2015). Student Single-Parents at Ohio State. Retrieved 14 November 2015, from http://singleparents.org.ohio-
state.edu/about_us.php
Sphc.umn.edu,. (2015). Student Parent HELP Center. Retrieved 14 November 2015, from http://www.sphc.umn.edu/

Student Parent Center,. (2015). Home. Retrieved 30 November 2015, from http://studentparents.berkeley.edu/

Sullivan, B., & Milkovich, K. (2005). Report of the 2005 Students with Children Survey. Retrieved from
http://www.studentswithchildren.umich.edu/report2005/2005SWCSurveyReport_web.pdf

Quimby, J., & O'Brien, K. (2006). Predictors of Well-Being Among Nontraditional Female Students With Children. Journal of Counseling & Development, 84(4),
451-460. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2006.tb00429.x