Using needs assessment surveys to understand priorities for pregnant and parenting community college students: Comparing US and foreign-born parents

Objective

To better understand differing needs of US and foreign-born pregnant and/or parenting community college students.

Participants/Methods

We conducted online survey with 608 students living in a rural Midwestern state who were pregnant and/or parenting, 15% of whom were born outside of the United States. We used chi-square tests to determine differences between US and foreign-born students.

Results

Results of our survey highlighted several areas in the following categories which are clear needs for this group of students: personal/mental health, child’s health, basic needs (ie food insecurity), academic/professional development, and parenting supports. In many cases, foreign-born students reported significantly higher need than their US counterparts.

Conclusions

Parenting and foreign-born students attend community colleges at higher rates than other four-year institutions and therefore these colleges need to understand how to best serve these populations. Conducting a needs assessment survey is an efficient way to collect information that allows administrators to tailor services that will help students succeed.

Ryan, G. W., Pieper, F. J., Adam, E., Askelson, N., Greene, M., & Buckert, A. Using needs assessment surveys to understand priorities for pregnant and parenting community college students: Comparing US and foreign-born parents. 1 - 6. 10.1080/07448481.2021.1947829.