BVU, Youth Shelter Care of North Central Iowa Connect through Strategic Partnership
Through a collaboration with Buena Vista University, Youth Shelter Care of North Central Iowa offers educational benefits to its employees and their eligible family members.
Buena Vista University (BVU) and Youth Shelter Care of North Central Iowa have aligned as Strategic Partners, providing new opportunities to transform the communities both entities serve.
This partnership allows for employees of Youth Shelter Care of North Central Iowa, as well as eligible family members of full-time employees, to receive grant funding to lower the overall cost per credit hour while enrolled in BVU’s convenient online undergraduate programs or the organizational leadership graduate program. Partner grant funding also lowers the cost of education for students enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus.
“We are hoping that this strategic partnership will bring in more employees who will want to stay with these benefits,” says Kate Cardenas, HR/Program Manager. “In the long run, this will help all our employees and their families, whether they want to further their education and move up the ladder with us or learn here and transfer on. Either way, we are grateful to support our staff in any way we can, as this is a tough field.”
Youth Shelter of North Central Iowa is a nonprofit corporation with a volunteer board of directors. With their location in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the company has over 20 employees, and the agency was founded in 1979. Youth Shelter Care of North Central Iowa provides safety for youth and is a community resource for the development of healthier youth and families through a diversity of services.
“Because of BVU’s flexibility with online or face-to-face training, it was easier for me to get my degree there than at another college. Whether I was working full-time or raising my kids, I could still complete my assignments in a timely manner, no matter how busy my schedule was,” said BVU alum Kate Cardenas from Youth Shelter of North Central Iowa. “BVU also has many ties with Iowa Central Community College, and it made the transition from a community college to a university so effortless.”
Youth Shelter of North Central Iowa strives to always treat children and families with respect and dignity, provide individualized services and keep children connected to their family and community. Youth Shelter of North Central Iowa has a professional, experienced, energetic and committed team in place that provides a wide array of services for youth and families.
BVU has long enjoyed strong educational ties in and around Fort Dodge, home to Iowa Central Community College, a campus that has collaborated with BVU for decades. Students enrolled in a program through Iowa Central can seamlessly transfer their credits toward their bachelor’s degree at BVU. Students receive personalized support including admissions and enrollment counseling and academic advising, right in Fort Dodge through BVU’s office on the Iowa Central Community College campus.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Youth Shelter of North Central Iowa to offer their employees affordable access to higher education,” says BVU Director of Strategic Partnerships Laura Todd. “This program goes beyond earning a degree; it’s about helping individuals grow their knowledge, advance in their careers, and take the next step, all with the flexibility that fits their work and life.”
For more information about BVU’s Strategic Partnerships and partner opportunities, please visit the BVU website at bvu.edu/strategic-partnerships or contact Strategic Partnerships at StrategicPartnerships@bvu.edu.