ALL IN TOGETHER - THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IN ACHIEVING STUDENT PARENT SUCCESS AT LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE

Oct 15, 2026

Analysis of experiences of student parents enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College examines barriers to degree attainment and how wrap-around services from the Family Resource Center improve outcomes. The study uses fall 2021 survey data from 200 parents plus focus groups to identify key obstacles including family and academic stressors, unreliable childcare, and financial pressures. Findings assess utilization of Family Resource Center services and describe the center’s role in supporting persistence and completion amid pandemic-driven enrollment declines.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Methodology

The Family Resource Center at Los Angeles Valley College

Barriers to Degree Attainment

July 2022 IWPR \#D518 ALL IN TOGETHER: THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IN ACHIEVING STUDENT PARENT SUCCESS AT LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE C. Nicole Mason, PhD INTRODUCTION Across the country, community colleges provide significant on-ramps to higher education and opportunities for skill enhancement for low-to-moderate-income families, including student parents, at a fraction of the cost of four-year private institutions. They are often a steppingstone to career advancement and economic security for parents and their children. This brief provides an analysis of the experiences of student parents enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College, highlighting barriers and obstacles to degree attainment, and an in-depth analysis of how wrap-around services provided by the Family Resource Center improve outcomes. Barriers include family and academic stressors; lack of high quality, reliable child care; and juggling family financial obligations and the cost of tuition, among others. The brief’s overarching goals are to: • Provide baseline information and data on the experiences of student parents enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College; • Understand the role the Family Resource Center plays in helping students succeed; and • Provide recommendations and strategies to strengthen services and fill gaps for student parents. The pandemic and the most recent economic downturn have had a devastating impact on enrollment at community colleges nationwide—enrolling 15 percent fewer students compared to two years earlier (Bulman and Fairlie 2021) . During times of economic shock or uncertainty, enrollment at two-year institutions surges as adults—young and old—seek out new skills or education to give them a competitive edge in the labor market. However, for many student parents, returning to the classroom during the pandemic was not a viable option because school and daycare closures increased their caretaking responsibilities. Financial precarity or uncertainty also challenged families. The California Community Colleges (CCC) system was not exempt from the impact of the pandemic on student enrollment. The entire system experienced a 15 percent decline in enrollment over the previous year. Black and Latina/o students—who comprise one-third and one-fifth of enrolled student parents in the CCC system, respectively—experienced even sharper declines in enrollment compared to other groups of students (Bulman and Fairlie 2021) . As the nation turns to recovery, it will be important to ensure student parents have the supports they need to remain enrolled and obtain their degrees. Methodology This study uses survey data collected in the fall of 2021 by the Los Angeles Valley College’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness and the Family Resource Center. 200 parents completed the survey. In addition to its survey, the Family Resource Center conducted in-depth focus groups to better understand the student parent experience at Los Angeles Valley College.1 Of the students surveyed, 15 percent reported they had utilized services and programs provided by the Family Resource Center. An additional seven percent of student parents surveyed were unsure if they had accessed Family Resource Center services or programs. A majority of the survey respondents (85 percent) identified as female. More than one-third (36 percent) identified as Hispanic, 27 percent identified as White, 21 percent identified as multiple races, and 6 percent each identified as Black or Asian/Pacific Islander. The demographics of survey respondents are similar to the demographics of the population included in the LAVC administrative data, an indication that the sample is reasonably representative of the whole. The Family Resource Center at Los Angeles Valley College The Los Angeles Valley College Family Resource Center has a 20-year history of supporting families, closing equity gaps, increasing economic mobility, and advocating policy change for student pare

FAQs

What barriers do student parents face at Los Angeles Valley College?

Barriers include family and academic stressors, lack of high quality reliable child care, and juggling financial obligations with tuition costs.

How was the study conducted?

Survey data from the fall of 2021 was collected by the LAVC Office of Institutional Effectiveness and the Family Resource Center, with 200 parent respondents, plus in-depth focus groups.

What services does the Family Resource Center provide?

The center supports parents with parenting classes, support groups, mentorship, stipends, textbooks, and counseling, supports children with supplies and early intervention services, and supports families through playgroups, tutoring, a food pantry, and family learning spaces.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Sophia Brooks