Parent Pathways Learning Network: Opportunity to Join!

The Department of Human Services is partnering with The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice at Temple University to provide an exciting membership opportunity, funded in part by the Aspen Institute's Ascend Program, for colleges, universities, and community organizations to improve their impact for parenting students' success. This effort is aimed at improving access to, and success in, higher education among Pennsylvanians who are raising children with the ultimate goal of boosting economic self-sufficiency.

One in five college students today are parenting: their success has both immediate and long-lasting impacts on generations, and the socio-economic health of the Commonwealth. The PA Parent Pathways Learning Network (PPLN) offers participants an opportunity to be a part of a national movement to successfully serve this essential population of post-secondary learners with unique challenges and opportunities.

The department will select up to 10 institutions of higher education and community organizations to be part of this innovative network through December 2022. Members will receive training and technical assistance from parenting student experts, coaching from Hope Center staff and PA agency affiliates, and peer-learning engagements provided via remote web-based platforms. Members commit staff time and authority to advance changes, but there is no financial cost to your institution. The end goal is to create implementation plans to establish or advance systemic support for parenting students' success.

Interested organizations from across the state are encouraged to apply for this innovative learning network.

If your institution or organization currently serves or is planning to serve parenting students, and you are interested to learn best practices, fine tune your program plans, and help shape policy, we encourage you to complete the application below by March 11, 2022.