Quality Early Care and Education
First 5 Alameda County supports high quality early care and education through:
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Professional development resources for early childhood educators
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An integrated Quality Rating and Improvement System that includes funding, technical assistance, and coaching/consultation to improve the quality of child care programs and facilities. Read more about the Quality Counts Program.
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Higher education and college-based professional development initiatives
LIMITED FUNDING OPPORTUNITY for Licensed FCCs and Centers
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors (BOS) and the Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is offering an unrestricted grant opportunity for licensed FCCs and Center-based programs in Alameda County.
Purpose: This funding aims to enhance child care access, affordability, and stability after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding Period: May 1, 2024 through November 1, 2024
Eligibility Criteria: Small and Large Family Child Care (FCC) and Center-based programs in Alameda County with active, current licenses who were operational during the pandemic before June 2021 and continue to be licensed with Community Care Licensing are eligible to receive funds.
Amount: Grants range from $3,200 for Small FCCs to $4,200 for Large FCCs and Center-based programs.
For more information and how to apply, visit:
Information in other languages: Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, Tagalog, Vietnamese
Administration of ECE Coaching Initiatives Manual
Does your organization or agency currently provide professional coaching in Early Care and Education (ECE)? Or, do you plan to provide coaching services in ECE in the near future? If so, do you know what is needed to create and implement an effective coaching initiative? First 5 Alameda County has released a manual designed for use by managers who are responsible for the creation and oversight of effective coaching initiatives for ECE sites. From assessment to orientation, implementation to evaluation, this comprehensive manual provides step-by-step support to help develop and conduct effective ECE coaching initiatives. Included with the manual are ten sample documents to help design a coaching initiative for your needs. A free download of the manual is now available from First 5 Alameda County.
Complete Manual:
Administration of ECE Coaching Initiatives
Manual by Sections:
Section 1- Introduction
Section 2- Blueprint
Section 3- Key Principles of Effective Coaching
Section 4- Foundations
Section 5- Building Blocks
Section 6- Samples
Section 7- Bibliography
For more information, please contact Tanya Smith (tanya.smith@first5alameda.org.)
Alameda County Workforce Study Survey Reports:
2016 Alameda County ECE Workforce Study
2016 Alameda County Sequal Report-Teachers' Voices
Our Partners:
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Alameda County Resource and Referral Agencies
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Alameda County Local Child Care Planning Council
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Interagency Children's Policy Council
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Institutions of Higher Education: Community Colleges and Universities
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Early Childhood Mentor Program
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Bay Area Quality Rating and Improvement System Partnership (BAQRISP)
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Help Me Grow Alameda County
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The Low Income Investment Fund
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First 5 California
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Alameda County School Districts
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Jewish Family and Children's Services
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City Slicker Farms
Our Accomplishments:
With over 255 participating programs serving over 11,000 children, our work ensures more children have access to quality early learning. Quality Counts has supported teachers and informal caregivers alike, providing professional development opportunities, coaching, and $1.4 million dollars in awards distributed directly to child care providers. We’re just getting started!
CA Early Care and Education Workforce Registry
The CA ECE Workforce Registry is a statewide website that maintains demographic and verified educational information for members of the early care and education workforce. This data system keeps track of your employment history, degrees, professional development hours, child development permits, credentials, and accomplishments. The Registry is your online ECE portfolio!
Looking for a job in the ECE field or looking to hire? We encourage you to use the Registry's Job Board.
Questions? Need support?
- Visit the Registry Resource Website.
- Contact the Workforce Registry directly by email or phone: 323-645-2631 or 855-645-0826 (toll free).
- Contact Angela Cabrera, Sr. Administrator, ECE Workforce: angela.cabrera@first5alameda.org or 510-227-9995.