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The CARES Model
The California CARES model was designed to help build and
reward a skilled and stable child care workforce through two
programs:
The Child Development Corps
includes family child care providers and center-based
staff (including teachers, site supervisors and directors) who:
- meet certain education and training qualifications,
- commit to continuing their professional development for
at least 21 hours per year, and
- agree to provide child care services for a period of time
ranging from a year or more.
In recognition of their skill, ongoing professional development
and commitment to working with young children, members of
the Corps receive monetary rewards ranging from $50 to $5,100
per year, depending on their education and background, and
on their particular county's CARES program.
Resources for Retention
was intended to provide additional support to public and private
child care programs that are committed to improving child
care quality by providing differential reimbursement rates
and quality improvement rewards to help the programs achieve
accreditation and improve staff retention.
Over 40 counties have adopted the CARES model, although the
program is offered under different names in some communities.
Most counties have adopted the Child Development Corps as
the centerpiece of their CARES programs, and a few have implemented
Resources for Retention.
Although counties have altered elements of
CARES in some cases, five points define the core principles
of California CARES:
- CARES is inclusive -- open to home-based, licensed
and exempt family child care providers, family child care
assistants, and center-based staff in public and private
child care programs. In center-based programs, all teaching
staff and all administrative staff who supervise their
work with children are eligible, regardless of job title
and program type, including for-profit, faith-based, private
nonprofit and subsidized programs.
- Stipends reward individuals both for attained education
and for continuing education and professional growth.
- Stipend increments are based on the Child
Development Permit Matrix, the statewide professional
development system for teaching and administrative staff.
- Stipends reward individuals who have been at their current
job for a minimum of one (program) year.
- Stipends for those with higher levels of education seek
to bridge the gap between child care and elementary school
salaries.
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