Successful BGSU partnership described in new book

A day care center at Bowling Green State University is among successful campus and community partnerships examined in a new book.

Co-edited by Dr. Thomas Chibucos, director of BGSU's School of Family and Consumer Sciences, "Serving Children and Families Through Community­University Partnerships: Success Stories" is a collection of 49 stories from 23 states which illustrate how universities and communities can collaborate to provide better opportunities for children and families.

Chibucos co-edited the book, published by Kluwer Academic Publishers, with Richard Lerner of Tufts University. Chibucos also co-authored two chapters and BGSU President Sidney Ribeau wrote the afterword.

"We hope the book will help influence the university culture to take the needed steps in creating a partnership with the community," Chibucos said.

One of the success stories contributed by Chibucos and five co-authors, "Child Care and Head Start: Community Action Commission­University Partnership," describes BGSU¹s collaboration with the CAC for Wood, Seneca, Ottawa and Sandusky counties to accomplish separate but similar goals.

The partnership, initiated in 1993, brought a Head Start program to campus and created a child care program to serve students, faculty and staff. It also resulted in the building of a facility to house both programs. The Jordan Family Development Center provides enhanced learning, research and service opportunities to University students and faculty, as well as opportunities for continued learning for Head Start personnel.

Chibucos notes that the partnership exemplifies the kind of community-university partnership that serves the public interest. Many children in the community are involved in the Head Start program at BGSU.

"The fact is that people in the community look to the university for leadership and as a resource, but are not inclined to initiate a partnership," said Chibucos. "On the other hand, if the university takes the initiative, the community is very responsive."

He pointed out that such collaboration is crucial because the university needs taxpayer support. The university also has an ethical responsibility to share specialized knowledge with, and learn from, the surrounding community, he added.

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