Misericordia University Receives $200,000 State Grant to Support Women with Children Program

State Funding Will Expand Housing, Childcare, and Academic Support Services for Single Mothers Pursuing College Degrees

DALLAS, Pa. — Misericordia University has been awarded $200,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Community and Economic Assistance Program to strengthen support services for single mothers enrolled in the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program.

The grant funding was championed by Senator Lisa Baker, with advocacy from Senator Judy Ward, chair of the Senate Maternal and Infant Health Caucus. The investment will enhance housing, childcare, and academic support services that help single mothers overcome barriers to higher education, empowering them to earn college degrees, achieve economic mobility, and build stronger futures for themselves and their families.

Established to address the unique challenges faced by single mothers seeking a college education, the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program provides participants with stable housing, childcare support, academic guidance, and a strong community of encouragement. The program’s goal is to help women complete a four-year degree, significantly increase their earning potential, and break cycles of multigenerational poverty.

The grant will further support the program’s mission by expanding resources that enable student mothers to persist through graduation while also fostering positive developmental outcomes for their children. Graduates of the program are encouraged to pursue sustained employment or advanced education opportunities, creating long-term benefits for future generations.

The Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program is one of the few residential programs of its kind in Pennsylvania, offering single mothers and their children a supportive environment designed to promote educational achievement, family stability, and economic self-sufficiency. To learn more about the program, click here.