Comprehensive Approach to Raising Educational Standards Plus (CARES Plus)
Purpose: Promotes the educational advancement, continued professional development, and retention of family care child home providers, child care center-based teaching staff through stipend incentives and training supports.
Desired Outcome: Increase the quantity and quality of the early care and education workforce in Merced County
Funding Source: Merced County First 5 and First 5 California
California Retention and Training - Assembly Bill 212 (AB212)
Purpose: To assist in improving the retention and training of qualified employees who work with children birth through school age who receive state-subsidized, Title 5, child development services.
Desired Outcome: Increase the quantity and quality of the early care and education workforce in Merced County.
Funding Source: California Department of Education.
The primary goal of CARES/AB 212 programs are to support child care professionals in attaining educational and professional benchmarks, which will ultimately improve the quality of care provided in out-of-home environments in Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers.
WRAP/AB 212 offers the following Services:
- Professional Growth Advising for Child Development Permits
- Educational and Career Planning in Child Development
- Textbook Lending Library
- Professional Development Training in ECE related topics and the Environmental Rating Scale, Infant and Toddler Care, and Curriculum Development
- Stipend Incentives, which are monetary incentives awarded to participants working in the early care and education (ECE) field. Stipend Incentives range from $750 -$2,750