Sonoma Quality Counts Pathways Participant Information

In order to enroll in Pathways program participants must meet the following:

1. Reside and be employed in Sonoma County.
2. Be currently employed in a licensed center, licensed family child care home, or an approved license-exempt child care setting that accepts some form of California early learning subsidy. The children served must be between the ages of 0 to 5 years old. Employment will need to be verified. (Transitional Kindergarten not eligible).
3. Working directly with children a minimum of 15 hours per week if employed. Supervising staff must also work directly with children a minimum of 15 hours per week.
4. Be currently enrolled in a minimum of one unit of CA Child Development Permit and ECE Degree focused courses at an accredited college (Approved Non-unit Courses are eligible).
5. Earn less than $75,000 (gross salary) annually from child care. This would be the participant’s income (not the household income).
6. Have a CA Early Care & Education Workforce Registry.

In order to enroll in Pathways program participants must meet the following:

1. Reside and be employed in Sonoma County.
2. Be currently employed in an approved license-exempt child care setting as a Friend, Family, Neighbor Provider that accepts some form of California early learning subsidy. The children served must be between the ages of 0 to 5 years old. Employment will need to be verified.
3. Working directly with children a minimum of 15 hours per week if employed. Supervising staff must also work directly with children a minimum of 15 hours per week.
4. Planning to take at least 10 hours of Professional development.
5. Earn less than $75,000 (gross salary) annually from child care. This would be the participant’s income (not the household income).

1. Complete the online portion of the application by completing the Application: Professional Development for FFN Category.
2. You must also submit the following by
   
   1. W9 Form (only if New to our program)
   2. A copy of a recent Pay Stub to prove employment and income level.

Your documents may be submitted by email to evuong@scoe.org OR mailed to:
Sonoma Pathways
5340 Skylane Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

The Application Documents can be found here: Sonoma Pathways Application Additional Documents (pdf)

1. Log in to your CA Workforce Registry Profile. If you do not have a Workforce Registry Portal, visit https://www.caregistry.org. Use this resource to complete your Registry Information: How to Create a User Account.
2. Once logged in, click on "Stipends and Pathways." Click "Application."
3. Make sure to confirm your personal information is correct. This page of information was generated by the information provided from your Registry Account. The address should match what will be reported on the W9 form. The accuracy of this information will determine eligibility. Click "Confirm and Continue."
4. Click Sonoma Quality Counts Pathways.
5. A description of our program will appear. Click on the "Continue to Online Application" button.
6. As this is a yearlong program, select "Spring 2024" as the time period. Select “College Credit” for stipend type, and enter school information. Click the "Submit Stipend Application" button.
7. Once you submit this portion, you must also upload the following supplemental documents:
   
   1. Unofficial Transcript to show proof of school enrollment (FFNS need not upload a Transcript)
   2. Employment Verification Form
   3. W9 Form (only if New to our program)
8. For assistance on how to upload documents to the Registry, please use the following resource: Upload Your Training Documents.
9. The Application Documents can be found here: Sonoma Pathways Application Additional Documents (pdf). Please note that for the Employment Verification Form, only one form needs to be submitted. Complete the form based on your employment type (Licensed center or Family Child Care Home Provider, etc) Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

1. Submit Proof of 10 Professional Development Hours Completed between the time period of July 1, 2023 and June 10, 2024. Proof can be Certificates of Completion, Registry Copies that state attendance, or Attendance Certificates.
2. Complete the Sonoma Pathways Survey. (This form will be emailed to you at the end of the school year).
3. If you change your address anytime, contact our office ASAP! You will need a new W-9 form. English | Spanish

Basic College Credit Option

1. FCC Owners ONLY — Submit a copy of your Family Child Care License to the Registry.
2. FCC Owners ONLY — Submit a copy of your Profit and Loss form. (This form is not required to be uploaded to the Registry)
3. Submit proof of holding/applying for a current CA Child Development Permit. Valid proof of permit includes the following: Copy of CA Child Development Permit, a copy of Verification of Completion Form signed by SRJC, or a copy of the Certified mail receipt used to mail your permit application.
4. Hold a Current Educational Plan that was developed with a School Advisor.
5. If you earned a degree between July 1, 2023, through June 10, 2024, submit one of the following: A copy of your diploma, a copy of your unofficial transcripts that states your degree, a copy of a candidate for completion degree letter signed by the Vice President of Student Services.
6. Submit another unofficial transcript that shows your Summer/Fall grades AND Winter/Spring grades.
7. Complete the Sonoma Pathways survey. (This form will be emailed to you at the end of the school year).
8. If you change your address anytime, contact our office ASAP! You will need a new W-9 form. English | Spanish

Reimbursement College Credit option

1. FCC Owners ONLY — Submit a copy of your Family Child Care License to the Registry.
2. FCC Owners ONLY — Submit a copy of your Profit and Loss form. (This form is not required to be uploaded to the Registry)
3. Submit proof of holding/applying for a current CA Child Development Permit. Valid proof of permit includes the following: Copy of CA Child Development Permit, a copy of Verification of Completion Form signed by SRJC, or a copy of the Certified mail receipt used to mail your permit application.
4. Hold a Current Educational Plan that was developed with a School Advisor.
5. If you earned a degree between July 1, 2023, through June 10, 2024, submit one of the following: A copy of your diploma, a copy of your unofficial transcripts that states your degree, a copy of a candidate for completion degree letter signed by the Vice President of Student Services.
6. Submit another unofficial transcript that shows your Summer/Fall grades AND Winter/Spring grades.
7. Submit clear receipts of Tuition and or Educational expenses to the Sonoma Pathways Office – Not required to upload to the Registry.
8. Complete the Sonoma Pathways survey. (This form will be emailed to you at the end of the school year).
9. If you change your address anytime, contact our office ASAP! You will need a new W-9 form. English | Spanish

Basic College Credit Option Structure

• $100 per unit for all ECE units completed with at least a grade “C"
• 200 per unit for General Education, English as a Second Language, or Basic Skills units completed with at least a grade “C"
• $300 per unit for Bachelor or Master Level when enrolled in a BA or MA program completed with at least a grade “C"
• $200 Peer Networking/Cohort participation bonus
• $200 CA Child Development permit attainment, upgrade, or renewal bonus
• $500 AA degree attainment bonus or $1,000 BA/MA degree attainment bonus

Reimbursement College Credit Option Structure

• Reimbursement for each eligible tuition and educational expenses receipt*
• $200 Peer Networking/Cohort participation bonus
• $200 CA Child Development permit attainment, upgrade, or renewal bonus
• $500 AA degree attainment bonus or $1,000 BA/MA degree attainment bonus

*If following the Reimbursement Structure, it is still required to complete a minimum of 1 college unit, but college credits will not be calculated as a stipend.

Stipends awarded by the Sonoma Pathways Program are considered Taxable income if the amount awarded is $600 or more. Please click here to read some FAQ.

• $500 for completing 10 hours of Professional Development

Stipends awarded by the Sonoma Pathways program are considered Taxable income if the amount awarded is $600 or more. Please click here to read some FAQ.