Providers
2021-2022 Professional Development Program (PDP) Application Period is open!
Welcome to the 2021-2022 Professional Development Program with stipends for eligible childcare providers working with children ages 0-5 years in Contra Costa County. You may apply between 9/15/2021 – 1/15/2022, but we encourage all interested providers to apply by the early application date, October 31, 2021.
Before you begin the application process, you must have an Early Care & Education Workforce Registry Account and Registry ID Number, a.k.a. WorkForce Registry ID Number or WFR#, which begins with 100 and is 9 digits total. A WFR# is required and necessary to apply for PDP, to register for and attend training and professional events, and to upload proof of training completion. If you do not have a WFR#, follow these instructions:
- Go to www.caregistry.org and click “Register Now.”
- Once registered, you will receive an email with a link to activate your account.
- Click the link and log in. You must log in to activate your account and to get your WFR#.
We recommend that you keep your WFR# number stored in your cell phone contacts for easy reference since you will need it throughout the year. Visit www.caregistry.org for Frequently Asked Questions and a tutorial on how to use the Registry. You may also contact Terrissa Hein, Education Liaison, Early Care & Education Programs, Contra Costa County Office of Education at thein@cccoe.k12.ca.us or 925.942.3397.
To support your successful participation and completion of PDP this year, we placed two easy tracker tools for you in the PDP Guide. You might want to print out these two pages to help you track your progress. Don’t have a printer? Email us and we will mail the trackers to you (email your First and Last name, home street address, city, and zip code to etreanor@first5coco.org).
- PDP Guide page 4: A step-by-step chart for the application process. We expect you to reference this chart for important steps, dates, and instructions, such as where to send your Application Packet.
- PDP Guide page 5: A participation checklist which outlines your actions and progress points from application time throughout the rest of the program year, September 2021-June 2022.
We look forward to partnering with you on your professional growth journey, whether you are taking your first college courses, or you have a degree and just need professional development hours. To apply for PDP, please start on page 4 of the PDP Guide with Step 1: Complete Application Packet.
- Click here to view the 2021-2022 Professional Development Program Guide and Application (Rev 01.05.22)
- Click here to print, fill out and sign, and submit a W-9 Form with your printed (hard copy) Application
COVID-19 Updates
Important Message from Quality Matters:
Due to Covid-19, all assessments and ratings due in FY 21-22 are on pause.
News and Updates
- First 5 Contra Costa
Resources for Online Learning, Support, and Self Care:
- Early Childhood Education from continued:
- CLICK HERE TO VIEW COURSES. Please select “take course for free” under the JOIN button.” Each course offer CEUs with a certificate:
- California Early Childhood Online (Click here to visit the CECO website)
- The Trauma Therapist Project:
- Staying Emotionally Close In The Time of COVID19, Bruce Perry, MD, PhD.
Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
- Click here to view a list of links to national and international resources that can help with a variety of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. From child care, to housing, to health care and medical information, many outstanding organizations are offering helpful resources.
- A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development
- What Is COVID-19? And How Does It Relate to Child Development?
- How to Support Children (and Yourself) During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Government and Federal Updates
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- IRS
- Congress.gov
Quality Matters!
Licensed (or license-exempt) child care programs–public and private centers and family child care programs–throughout Contra Costa County can join Quality Matters (QM), our quality rating and improvement system, which supports and incentivizes child care programs to offer the best early care and education possible.
Quality is the new benchmark of early child care and education
High-quality child care programs excel in all areas of service. They provide safe, healthy, nurturing and stimulating environments that support and promote all areas of a child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.
Quality early child care lays the foundation for future success
- Quality care is linked to the brain development and social development of infants and toddlers.
- Children who receive higher-quality care show more positive outcomes in academics, behavior and social skills than those who receive lower-quality care.1
- Lower-quality care can have negative effects on a child’s language, social development and school performance.2
Resources to help you improve the quality of care you provide
Contra Costa County
CocoKids
Provides free or low cost programs and services to help support child care providers in Contra Costa County. Services are available to licensed child care centers and family child care homes to support their quality improvement, school readiness efforts and the success of their businesses.
Call: (925) 676-5442
Quality Matters
If you are a licensed child care provider for children ages 5 or under in Contra Costa County, you may be eligible to participate in Quality Matters—a program that offers training, coaching, and financial rewards to help providers improve the quality of care they offer.
Call: (925) 771-7319
Community College Support
Support is available for Contra Costa child care providers taking classes at Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, and Los Medanos College, including an academic advisor to help providers set and meet educational goals, tutoring and special provider-only classes, assistance for English as a Second Language students, textbook loans and more.
Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE)
The Contra Costa County Office of Education provides services for children 0-3 years old who qualify for special education services through the Early Start program. A Road Map to Kindergarten©Guide for parents is available in English and Spanish to help promote successful kindergarten transitions for children.
The Contra Costa County Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education (LPC)
LPC promotes quality child care through community assessment, advocacy, resource development, and collaboration with other organizations. The LPC coordinates ongoing early care and education trainings, seminars and events for providers and families in Contra Costa County.
California
Professional Association for Childhood Education (PACE)
A statewide non-profit organization committed to advancing the profession of childhood education. Provides resources and services for early care and education professionals to improve business management practices through education, networking and advocacy.
California Association for Family Child Care
A nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that providers have the support and resources they need to be successful. Members are provided with information, professional growth opportunities and mentoring.
Call: 510-450-7152
National
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy and research. Supports all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.
National Association for Family Child Care
Nonprofit membership association dedicated to promoting quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care.
1 www.del.wa.gov/publications/elac-qris/docs/SynthesisDoc.pdf
2 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/115/1/187
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