Austin Community College District (ACC) increases its support for student-parents with the launch of Family Resource Corners at the Highland and Round Rock campuses. The new spaces provide free diapers, wipes, and menstrual products.
At ACC, nearly one in three students is a parent. A recent survey found that 31% of ACC students ran out of money more than six times in the past year, highlighting the need for added support on campus.
“This partnership allows us to meet students where they are. We are supporting their education and their families at the same time,” says Cara Crowley, Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Basic Needs Systems. “When a parent can pick up diapers or period products on campus, that’s one less worry and one more reason to stay in school. These resources represent care, community, and the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.”
The initiative is supported by a $20,000 unrestricted grant from the Austin Community Foundation’s 2025 Forever Austin Fund, in partnership with the Austin Diaper Bank.
“No parent should have to choose between diapers and a degree,” says Kim Parker, executive director of Austin Diaper Bank. “By addressing diaper need among community college students, this partnership removes a barrier that too often stands in the way of success.”
The Family Resource Corners are part of ACC’s comprehensive Basic Needs System, which includes food pantries, housing support, mental health counseling, and childcare connections. The new resource will be integrated into the Riverbat Bites Food Pantries, which launched across all 11 ACC campuses earlier this fall.
For more information on Family Resource Corners and the Riverbat Bites Food Pantries, visit austincc.edu/foodpantry.