Monterey County CARES 2009-10

The CARES Program provides financial incentives to encourage and support educational attainment among early childhood education professionals and family child care providers. Research has shown that investing in quality child care is crucial to the optimal development of young children. The program offers a cash stipend to people that care for and teach young children and meet program requirements. The cash stipends are given when babysitters, child care providers, and preschool teachers complete courses in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or general education classes.

The CARES program also offers training in the Early Childhood and Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale.

To date more than 3,465 cash stipends have been awarded to 1,687 child care providers in Monterey County. Resulting in more than $4,337,207! As a result, over 10,000 children in Monterey County have received better child care.

NEW Program Requirements
July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010

The new requirements and rules for the CARES program are based on the national movement to encourage college education of child development professionals. The focus is on attaining college credits that will help program participants move up the permit matrix, achieve a degree, earn a specialization, or enhance their knowledge/education in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development (CD). The only way to qualify for a CARES stipend is to take at least 3 college units that count toward at least one these milestones.

Bonus cash stipends are also available when CARES participants achieve one of the following milestones:
• Obtain a Child Development Permit.
• Achieve an AA/AS or BA Degree in ECE/CD or related field.
• Achieve an Early Childhood Specialization as determined by your ECE/CD Department at your college and verified by the CARES Professional Development Coach.

Additional Changes in the New CARES Program:
• Professional development hours (non-college credit workshops) will not earn awards.
• We will not use official CARES Professional Growth Advisors. All participants will be required to meet with an assigned Professional Development Coach, who will work closely with participants and the colleges.