Training & Job Development for Early Childhood Careers Project
The Early Childhood Education Career Development Project provides an overview of early childhood principles with on the job skills in a classroom setting. Upon completion of the project, participants will have a basic foundation to begin an entry-level position in a pre-school setting. The program is designed to build a strong, highly skilled and diverse workforce of early childhood educators to meet the high need for quality early childhood programs.
To meet that workforce development need, the Training & Job Development for Early Childhood Careers Project partners with Napa Valley College to provide participants with an introductory child development college course, coupled with on-the-job training in an early childhood classroom. Under the guidance of an experienced pre-school teacher, participants receive 18 weeks of individualized training in a classroom setting. This hands-on-training is linked to a variety of supportive resources including: job market information, career counseling, child care assistance, translation, financial aid and academic counseling.
To increase the number and diversity of people entering the field of early childhood education, there is an extensive outreach component. Aligned with social and community organizations, the project taps into a culturally, linguistically, and geographically diverse population.
"The project gave me the opportunity to go to college and open doors to my future.”
The combined approach of on-the-job training, college classes, and support services provides additional support to motivate and encourage participants to go beyond these first steps of training and continue their education toward a career in the early childhood field.