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July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015Contra Costa CARES PlusProfessionalDevelopmentProgramSummary and Enrollment Guide
Dear Early Childhood Educator,You spend every day helping the children in your care tolearn and grow. This guide contains information about theopportunities that are available to help you learn and growprofessionally.Most of the professional development options includedhere require that you continue your education if you havenot completed a college Degree in Early Childhood/ChildDevelopment. The three community colleges have cohortclasses, textbook loans, tutoring, and other supports tohelp you achieve your educational goal. These options willalso add to your knowledge about the types of interactionswith children that promote children's social, emotional andacademic development, practice identifying your behaviorsthat characterize those effective interactions, and developstrategies to improve your practices.Many early childhood professional developmentopportunities are moving to an online delivery method,and this year’s options are no different. Don’t let that stopyou from signing up! You have more to gain from theseprofessional development activities than just the stipend.You will grow as a professional, receive resources, and helpus build a community of leaders in Contra Costa.Information about different CARES Plus PDP options,where to find more information about them, and how toenroll in the 2014-2015 CARES Plus PDP program is included in this guide.See your PDP Advisor for more information andenrollment forms, or go to www.firstfivecc.org.Sincerely,PDP AdvisorsDiablo Valley CollegeSue Handy925-685-1230 ext. 22393shandy@dvc.eduLos Medanos CollegeMelissa Jackson925-473-7639mjackson@losmedanos.eduContra Costa CollegeMay Saeteurn510-235-7800 ext. 44985msaeteurn@contracosta.eduChild Care CouncilMonica Joseph925-676-5442 ext. 3126Monica.joseph@cocokids.orgEdirle Menezes, Ph.D.ECE Program Officeremenezes@firstfivecc.org925-771-73332
2014-2015 CARES PlusProfessional Development ProgramEligibility RequirementsIn order to enroll and participate in 2014-2015 First 5 Contra Costa CARESPlus Professional Development Program (PDP), participants must meet thefollowing requirements: Be employed at a licensed center-based program or family child care home in ContraCosta County and work directly with a group of children five years and younger for aminimum of 15 hours per week. Hold a position traditionally referred to as assistant/aide, associate teacher, teacher,master/head teacher, site supervisor, assistant director, program director, substitute,family child care owner, or family child care staff. Be at least 18 years of age and have a Social Security Number or Tax ID Number.Participants working in state-funded programs are welcome to register for First 5Contra Costa’s professional development options. Please note, participants maynot receive a stipend from both First 5 Contra Costa and AB 212, even ifprofessional development activities differ. To learn about the AB 212Professional Development Program options, please visit www.plan4kids.org.Enrollment Email is the primary communication method to participate in First 5 Contra CostaCARES Plus Professional Development Program (PDP). Therefore, participants musthave access to a valid email account. We ask that all participants addetreanor@firstfivecc.org to their email contacts list to ensure email messages arereceived. Complete an enrollment form through one of Contra Costa Community Colleges—DVC, LMC, or CCC. Forms are available at www.firstfivecc.org. The enrollment period is August 1- September 2, 2014.StipendsAt the end of the program year, participants must meet the followingrequirements to qualify for a stipend: Have worked consistently within the same program for a minimum of 15 hours perweek for at least the previous 9 months. Have submitted a Stipend Request From, Employment Verification and W-9 Forms,and the First 5 California Participant Survey. These forms will be emailed to participants in Spring of 2015.3
COREIntroductionto CLASS OnlineLooking atCLASSroomsOnlineKids & SmokeDon’t MixOnlineAND Regular three-hour Looking at CLASSroomsNew Participants OnlySeminars (Peer Learning Groups)Stipend 800Individuals who are new to the CARES Plus program must enroll in CORE, which includes participation inregular Looking at CLASSrooms Seminars (Peer Learning Groups), and completion of the three followingonline activities:1. Introduction to the CLASS is a 2-hour online program that introduces the CLASS structure, itsuses, and the importance of effective teacher-student interactions to learning.2. Looking at CLASSrooms is a 20-30 hour, self paced online program. Participants will identify andanalyze effective teacher-child interactions with videos and interactive materials supported by peergroup discussions.3. Kids & Smoke Don’t Mix is a self-directed online training (1 hour).All of the materials for these trainings will be provided free of charge and will be available in English andSpanish. The introduction to the CLASS and the Looking at CLASSrooms trainings are coordinated byTeachstone. To access these trainings each participant must set up an online account and register for the Intro toCLASS training by January 31, 2015. Participants will have until February 28, 2015 to complete the Intro to CLASS online training.Once this training is completed participants will be granted access to the Looking at CLASSroomstraining. Participants will have until May 31, 2015 to complete the Looking at CLASSrooms trainings.No extensions will be given. The Kids & Smoke Don’t Mix training will begin in October 2014. This training must be completed byMay 31, 2015. It can be accessed at the following links: English: http://caresplustobacco.org ORSpanish: http://caresplustobacco.org/espanolAs a new participant, if approved for CORE you must complete the following requiredactivities to qualify for a stipend: Participate in regular three-hour Looking at CLASSrooms seminars (Peer LearningGroups) during Spring 2015 at one of Contra Costa Community Colleges (DVC,LMC, or CCC) or at Child Care Council. First year participants with less than an Associate’s Degree in Child Development/Early Childhood Education or equivalent must complete 3 units of pre-approvedcoursework between July 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015.4
Component A:TrainingNew & ReturningParticipantsComplete 21 hours of CDEapproved trainingsStipend 300Available to CARES Plus participants with an Associate’s Degree or higher in ECE/CD or equivalent.Participants with less than an Associate’s Degree may be recommended for this option if also enrolled inCollege Coursework (Component B). Completion of a Professional Growth Plan OR Education Plan isrequired for Component A eligibility.To find a Professional Growth Advisor please contact your PDP Advisor (refer to pg. 2).Requirements to qualify for a Component A stipend:Complete 21 hours of training certified by the California Department of Education (CDE), including anyof the following: Infant-Toddler and Preschool Learning and Development FoundationsInfant-Toddler and Preschool Curriculum FrameworkPreschool English Learners (PEL): Principles and Practices to Promote language, Literacy, andLearningCenter on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)Program for Infant-Toddler Care (PITC)Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) trainingsUC Davis Family Child Care at Its BestEnvironment Rating Scales (ERS)Health, Safety, and Nutrition (2 hour online training)http://www.healthypreschoolers.com/The 21 hours must begin after July 1, 2014 and must be completed by May 31, 2015.For a complete list of CDE-approved trainings please visit the following links:California Department of Education—Approved CARES Plus Component Atrainings: lifornia Early Childhood Online (CECO) www.caearlychildhoodonline.orgANDContra Costa County Office of Education www.plan4kids.orgIMPORTANT: Training Fees reimbursementParticipant pays registration fee for training(s). Fees will be reimbursed upon successful completion of 21 hours (up to a maximum of 150 in addition to stipend).5
Component B:College CourseworkNew & ReturningParticipantsDuring the program year complete aminimum of 6 units applicable to ECE/CDor equivalent degree to obtain or upgrade aChildhood Development PermitStipend 400- 1200The college coursework component is designed to support early educators pursuing a college degree inEarly Childhood Education, Child Development or equivalent degree, or taking coursework to obtain orupgrade a Childhood Development Permit. Participants must complete the following required activities to qualify for a stipend: Complete the minimum of 6 semester units during the program year with a grade of “C” or better toearn the stipend of 400. Coursework must begin after July 1, 2014 and be completed by May 31, 2015. Participants who are taking coursework towards an Associate’s Degree must take classes at ContraCosta College, Diablo Valley College, or Los Medanos College. Participants who are taking classes towards a Bachelor’s Degree must complete coursework in afour-year accredited institution and have an education plan pre-approved by First 5 Contra Costa.Reflective PracticeSeminar (RPS)If approved for Component B, participantmust complete the following requiredactivities to qualify for a stipend: Meet with a PDP College Advisortwice: once at the beginning of theprogram year and at the end to identifyand obtain approval of coursework oneither the participant’s 2014-2015 education plan or otherwise documentedand approved by your PDP CollegeAdvisor. Coursework bonus - Participants whocomplete more than the required 6units during the program year will receive 100 for each additional unit ofcoursework, up to 800. The highest stipend paid under theCollege Coursework component is 1,200.Complete 5 hours of groupreflective practice seminars forat least one courseStipend 300This option requires group reflective practiceseminars integrating CLASS behaviors andindicators, and participants’ learning experiences drawn from the course (s) they are enrolled in. Reflection seminars will take placeduring the Fall semester. RPS participation isrequired for only one course and it requiresPDP College Advisor pre-approval.6
In-Person CLASSObservationParticipants are randomly selected byFirst 5 California and will be notified inOctober 2014New & ReturningParticipantsStipend 250First 5 California will randomly select enrolled CARESPlus participants from counties throughout California toreceive CLASS assessments. This assessment will occurtwice: once at the start of the program year (preassessment) and at the end (post-assessment). Participants will use a video camera (provided by andto be returned to First 5 California) to recordinteractions in their classrooms for the assessment.The video recordings will be submitted and scored byassessors funded by First 5 California. The highestlevel of security will be used to keep these videosconfidential. Only the assessor will view them; oncethe assessor has scored a video it will be destroyed. If you are selected to receive an In-Person CLASSObservation (a pre-and post-assessment), First 5Contra Costa staff will notify you in October 2014. If your employer will not allow videotaping of yourclassroom, you may submit a Waiver Request for theIn-Person CLASS Observation.Lost WagesReimbursement for time spent in fieldexperience, practicum course. Limit 1000 per semester per person.Stipend: up to 1000Participants who completed the InPerson CLASS Observation during the2013-14 program year will not be selected again this year.Does your program hire a substitute teacher whenyou take student-teaching coursework? Does yourprogram deduct this time from your pay? LostWages reimburses teachers for this unpaid time.Reimbursement is for time spent in fieldexperience. Participants must provide to First FiveContra Costa verification of wages and transcriptsshowing completion of student-teaching or fieldexperience courses with a “C” or better.See your College PDP Advisor to apply for thisoption.7
Component D:My Teaching PartnerComplete a year long, one-on-one coaching program focused on helping teachersinteract more effectively with childrenReturning ParticipantsOnlyMy Teaching Partner (MTP) is a supportive, yearlong, one-on-one coaching program focused on helping teachers interact more effectively with children.This is a unique professional development opportunityfor early educators in Contra Costa County. To be eligible for MTP early educators must:Stipend 1300 Meet eligibility requirements for participation in theCARES Plus program.If approved for MTP (ComponentD), participants must complete thefollowing required activities to qualifyfor a stipend: Currently hold a position as a center-based teacher oras a family child care owner/teaching staff. Commit to the entire 2014-15 program year to complete the coaching cycle.Participants must have regular access to an email account. Communication and any project work areentirely through email. The certificate of program completion must be submitted to your PDPAdvisor by May 31, 2015. Have three (3) children enrolled in their program at theage group they are receiving MTP coaching. Submit application to your PDP College Advisor by August 15, 2014.IMPORTANT: If you have previously participatedin MTP and wish to complete the coachingprogram during 2014-2015 on a different agegroup, you are eligible to do so if currentlyworking with the age group you desire to receiveMTP coaching on.Selected participants will be notified via email inSeptember 2014.If a participant is not randomly selected to participate inMy Teaching Partner s/he will be contacted by First 5Contra Costa staff and offered an opportunity to chooseanother CARES Plus component.8
Important Information In the Spring of 2015 participants will receiveStipend Request Form, Employment Verification and W-9 forms to be filled out, signed bytheir PDP Advisor, and submitted to First 5 Contra Costa no later than June 17 , 2015 . Stipends will be issued in July 2015 and will bemailed to participants’ home mailing address. Stipends must be declared as income subject toincome tax regulations. A 1099 form with yourstipend amount will be mailed during the firstweek of January 2016 to any participant who received a stipend of more than 600 during 20142015 CARES Plus program year.First 5 Contra Costa may raise orlower stipend amounts based onthe amount of available funds andthe number of eligible applicants.After all stipends are paid to eligibleparticipants, if there are surplus funds inthe stipend budget, First 5 Contra Costamay provide a bonus stipend to any participant on the College Coursework option(Component B) who completed more thanthe required 6 semester units. Courseworkbonuses would be based on available funds,additional units participant completed, andthe number of eligible participants for thisbonus.9
Important DatesEnrollment and Stipend DatesEnrollment Begins . August 1, 2014Enrollment Deadline. September 2, 2014Stipend Requests Period. May 31 - June 17, 2015Stipend Checks Distributed. July 2015Meeting with PDP College AdvisorsIdentify pre-approved courses in your Education Plan and/orDevelop your Professional Growth Plan. August - December 2014Review and update your Education Plan and/orProfessional Growth Plan with your PDP Advisor . April - May 31, 2015Required CORE Option DatesRegister for Intro to CLASSTM by.January 31, 2015Complete Intro to CLASSTM by. February 28, 2015Complete Second-Hand Smoke training by. May 31, 2015Complete CORE Option by. May 31, 2015College Coursework, Training, and MTP Options DateComplete Options Requirements by. May 31, 2015In-Person CLASS observations DatesComplete Fall observation . November 15, 2014Complete Spring observation . May 15, 201510
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Groups) during Spring 2015 at one of Contra Costa Community Colleges (DVC, LMC, or CCC) or at Child Care Council. First year participants with less than an Associate’s Degree in Child Development/ Early Childhood Education or equivalent must complete 3 units of pre-a
