Sonoma CARES
The new Sonoma CARES Plus is a professional development program designed to improve the quality of early learning programs by focusing on education, preparation, and retention of an effective and diverse workforce.
The program provides guidance, support, and compensation incentives to child care professionals in order to raise the quality of child care programs and, ultimately, to improve young children’s learning and development outcomes in Sonoma County.
This program is a great opportunity for individuals who work with young children to receive support, increase their skills and education, improve the quality of their child care services, and earn a stipend award. Please contact us at (707) 524-2639 to learn how you can participate.
Administered by the Child Care Planning Council (CCPC) of Sonoma County, the CARES program incorporates funding from First 5 Sonoma County, First 5 California, and the California Department of Education’s Staff Retention Program (AB 212).
Program Deadline Reminder: All required documents must be received in our office no later than 4:30pm on June 11, 2012. |
Documents and Froms
Employee Verification Form (pdf)
W-9 Form (pdf)
Important Dates
Paperwork Return Deadline: June 11, 2012
Stipend Issuance: August 2012
Reports
First 5 Sonoma County’s Summary of CARES Accomplishments (pdf)
Sonoma CARES 5-Year Snapshot (pdf)
Focused CARES 2010-2011 Snapshot (pdf)
Gateway to Quality Mini-Grants
First 5 Sonoma County's Gateway to Quality Mini-Grant Program is open to child care providers and early childhood educators who have previously received a First 5 Sonoma County mini-grant.
The program supports child care providers who have successfully completed an academic course (or its equivalent) in the Harms-Clifford environment rating scales (ECERS, FCCRS, or ITERS) and who are working to improve the quality of their child care environments. Mini-grants awarded through this program must be used for materials and equipment, facility improvements or renovations, and other quality improvement projects that directly improve scoring on the environment rating scales.
Validators will collaborate with applicants to ensure that items requested address environment rating scale improvement. The Child Care Planning Council administers the validation component of the mini-grant program.
Gateway to Quality Intent to Apply Due Dates
April 15 and October 15
Visit First 5 Sonoma County to download an Intent to Apply form.
Reports
Gateway to Quality 3-Year Report (pdf)
Resources
Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC) | (209) 572-6080
Commission on Teaching Credentialing | (888) 921-2682
Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs) | (707) 544-3077
Financial Aid, Grants & Scholarships (pdf)
River to Coast Children’s Services | (707) 869-3613
Santa Rosa Junior College | (707) 524-4315
Sonoma State University | (707) 664-3115
Transcript Evaluation (pdf)
Contact
- Gislene Mertle, Program Administrator
(707) 524-2639,