Jen had always planned to offer child care in her home when she had her first child, so when she found out she was pregnant, she decided to take an early education class to prepare. With all the other costs of a new baby, the thought of college tuition was daunting.
Through United Way, Jen was able to take the Expanding Quality in Infant and Toddler Care classes at a low cost. Not only did she learn how to create an environment in which children can thrive, it also allowed Jen to gain licensure and develop a network of supportive peers.
challenges
In 2016, there were 14,249 children under 6 in Weld County with both parents in the labor force, and just 6,400 licensed child care slots (currently only 259 of those slots are for infants, and 475 are for toddlers). The vast majority of young children in Weld County do not have access to licensed child care. By increasing the number of licensed child care providers, we can help ensure that children are cared for in high quality environments where they can thrive.
Without high quality early childhood intervention, an at-risk child is…
- 25% more likely to drop out of school
- 40% more likely to become a teen parent
- 50% more likely to be placed in special education
- 60% more likely to never attend college
- 70% more likely to be arrested for a violent crime
Studies have shown that based on the quality, intensity, and duration of the program, when we spend $1 on early childhood education the return on investment in our community ranges from $8 – $16.
Investments
The Expanding Quality in Infant and Toddler Care (EQIT) training is a 48-hour curriculum, and is offered twice per year in English and once per year in Spanish. The curriculum covers information including infant and toddler brain development, responsive caregiving, emotional development, motor development, language and literacy, understanding and respecting culture, inclusion/special needs, safe and healthy environments, positive guidance and more.
Participants may enroll through United Way of Weld County for certification and/or through Aims Community College to earn college credit. Grants are often available.
Upon completion of the training, participants will meet the state education requirements for Infant/Toddler Nursery Supervisor, Infant/Toddler Home License, 3 under 2 Family Child Care License, Large Family Child Care License or Experienced Provider Family Child Care License.
“Participants in these user-friendly trainings grow professionally, appreciate the interactive curriculum, and receive individualized support through coaching.”
Weld County EQIT Training Team
