| General
Information about the CARES Program
The Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards (CARES) Program is designed to provide training and support to caregivers along the entire continuum of care, from family, friend and neighbor caregivers (FFN) to teachers with advanced degrees. The program encourages retention of caregivers in the field and provides cash incentives or resources to further educational attainment. The target population of the CARES program is Early Childhood Education staff, including home-based, licensed and license-exempt family child care home providers, family child care home assistants, and center-based staff in public and private child care programs in Sacramento County.
All interested participants MUST attend a mandatory
orientation
this year in order to submit an application for the
CARES program.
Due to funding limitations, NOT ALL ELIGIBLE
PARTICIPANTS are guaranteed a stipend. If there
are more eligible applicants than funding available,
a lottery will be held to determine stipend awardees.
In order to support child care providers wherever they
are on their path to educational and professional attainment,
five tracks support the provision of quality care regardless
of the setting families select for their child. The
program tracks are as follows:
- Track
1 - Family Friends and Neighbors: intended
for family, friend and neighbor caregivers (FFN) caring
for children from one family other than their own
- Track
2A - Entry Track (College Units): intended
for licensed and license-exempt family child care
home providers and center-based staff who have less
than 6 ECE units. The goal of this track is to earn
6 units in ECE and begin earning a Child Development
Teacher Permit and/or an AA degree in Child Development
or a related field.
- Track
2B - Entry Track (Training Hours): intended
for licensed and license-exempt family child care
home providers who have earned less than 6 ECE units.
The goal of this track is to earn professional growth
hours that help prepare you to earn college-level
ECE units and begin earning a Child Development Teacher
Permit and/or an AA degree in Child Development or
a related field.
-
Track 3 - Permit Track: intended for
licensed family child care home providers or center-based
staff who have completed a minimum of 6 units of college
coursework in ECE. Participants must be working towards
a Child Development Permit.
- Track
4 - Degree Track: intended for licensed
family child care home or center-based staff who have
earned their AA degree (or educational equivalent)
or Site Supervisor Permit and are taking classes required
for a BA or Masters/Credential in a field related
to ECE/Child Development. The Credential must be an
Early Education Credential (as available) or Multiple
Subject Elementary School Credential.
-
Track 5A - Professional (Growth Advisor):
intended for licensed family child care home providers
or center-based staff who have earned a BA degree
in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or
related field and are continuing their professional
development through training and through professional
development activities.
- Track
5B - Professional (ECERS): intended for
licensed family child care home or center-based staff
who hold at the minimum a Master Teacher Permit or
a BA Degree that are interested in taking a leadership/advisor
role in their classroom, child care center or among
their peers. The Track 5B participant is also interested
in conducting environmental assessments and supporting
peers in improving the quality of care provided.
If you are eligible and complete all of the yearly requirements, you may be eligible for a resource kit valued at $150 to support you in providing quality care or a cash stipend of up to $5000.
PLEASE REMEMBER: Due to funding limitations, NOT
ALL ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS are guaranteed a
stipend. If there are more eligible applicants than
funding available, a lottery will be held to determine
stipend awardees. |
