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he fifth year of CARES Plus begins on July 1, 2015. The online enrollment period will
begin on August 1, 2015 and end on August 31, 2015. All returning participants must enroll
online to participate in the fifth year of CARES Plus. The requirements and options for a returning participant are different from the requirements for a first-time participant. A returning participant is defined as any participant who previously received a CARES Plus stipend during any of the past four program years (2011-2015).
Please read this information carefully and contact CARES Plus at
[email protected] with any questions.
Important information for Returning CARES Plus Participants
Returning participants must complete, and electronically submit, an online enrollment form. The online enrollment period is from August 1, 2015 – August 31, 2015. Instructions on how to complete this enrollment form will be emailed to all previous participants when the enrollment period begins. Returning participants who successfully complete all of their required activities will receive an
additional $250 Retention Stipend for continuing with the program.
Returning participants do not repeat the Core component online trainings, which they completed during a previous year. This means that returning participants are not eligible for the $500 Core component stipend.
Eligible bonus stipends available. See page 4 for additional information.
CARES Plus uses email to update participants and provide important reminders about CARES Plus requirements and deadlines. By enrolling in CARES Plus participants are agreeing to check their email regularly for information from CARES Plus. These emails are considered official communications from CARES Plus and failing to check email may result in a participant not being eligible for a stipend. To make sure that critical emails from CARES Plus do not end up in a “spam” or “junk” folder, it is highly recommended that participants add the following email addresses to their contacts list:
[email protected], [email protected], and the email of their assigned CARES specialist.
Santa Clara County
CARES Plus
Program Overview
for Returning Participants
………..
Year Five:
July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016
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T
A returning participant is defined as any participant whoreceived a CARES Plus stipend during any of the past four
Returning participants may choose from the following options for year five:
Option 1: College Coursework Component
The college coursework component is designed to support early educators pursuing a college degree or taking coursework to obtain or upgrade a California Child Development Permit or credential. In order to receive a stipend under this component a participant must complete a minimum of 6 semester or 9 quarter units with a grade of “C” or better. Note that “C-“ is no longer acceptable. These courses must be completed between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016.
Participants who choose to complete the College Coursework component must have their coursework pre-approved by developing a Professional Development and Education Plan (PDEP). Participants who will be taking coursework must meet with the CARES college representative assigned to them to complete the PDEP. When participants submit their online enrollment forms, CARES Plus staff will email them the contact
information for the person who will complete or update their PDEP. This information will be sent out in early September 2015. Courses must be taken through nationally accredited colleges or universities to be eligible for a stipend.
College Coursework Component Stipend Information
Participants who choose to complete the College Coursework component will receive a stipend based on the number of units they complete during the program year plus an additional $250 Retention stipend for completing another year of CARES Plus:
Coursework ($1,200 – $1,500) + Retention Stipend ($250) = Total Stipend ($1,450 – $1,750) Courses that are eligible for a stipend are
identified when a participant develops a PDEP with a CARES college representative. Stipend amounts are based on the number of units completed and are calculated by multiplying the number of eligible units completed times the per-unit rate:
Number of eligible units completed
X per-unit rate = Stipend
Coursework Bonus Stipend
If, after all stipends are paid to eligible participants, there are surplus funds in the stipend budget the CARES Plus program will provide a bonus stipend to any participant on the College Coursework component who completed more than the required 6 semester units (9 quarter units). This bonus will be based on the number of eligible participants, and available funds.
Per Unit Rates for Coursework
Course type Per semester
unit
Per quarter unit Child Development/ECE (or
equivalent) or Elective courses required for degree
$200.00 $134.00
General Education $250.00 $167.50 English as a Second Language
(ESL) (or equivalent) $250.00 $167.50 Basic Skills (or equivalent) $250.00 $167.50
In order to receive a stipend under this component a participant must complete a minimum of 6 semester or 9 quarter units with a grade of “C” or better. A “C-“ is no longer
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Option 2: Training Component
Complete 21 hours of training, which has been certified by the California Department of Education (CDE), including any of the following:
Infant-Toddler and Preschool Learning and Development Foundations Infant-Toddler and Preschool Curriculum Framework
Preschool English Learners (PEL): Principles and Practices to Promote Language, Literacy, and Learning Early Childhood Educator Competencies
Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) WestEd Program for Infant-Toddler Care (PITC)
Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) trainings California Early Childhood Online (CECO)
Healthy Preschoolers (online)
California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN)
Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP)
Child Language and Literacy Development (SEEDS) – Provided by FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
Note: Additional training options may be added when they become available.
The 21 hours must begin after July 1, 2015 and be completed by June 30, 2016. Web addresses for information on the CDE certified trainings listed above are available on the WestEd E3 Institute website at
www.santaclaracares.org
.
NEW: Participants may use unit-bearing courses to meet the 21-hour requirement only if the following circumstances are met:
The class must be a minimum of 2 semester units or 3 quarter units. The coursework must be ECE or CD courses.
The coursework is offered through a WASC-accredited higher education institution. The participant obtains a grade of “C” or better.
Training Component Stipend Information
Participants who choose to complete the training component will receive a $300 stipend for completing the training component plus an additional $250 Retention stipend for completing an additional year of CARES Plus.
Training ($300) + Retention Stipend ($250) = Total Stipend ($550)
Option 3: MyTeachingPartnerTM (MTPTM) 2015-2016
Returning participants may still choose to apply for the MTP™ Project. If selected to be part of this project in 2015-2016, this will become a returning participant’s component for CARES Plus and they will not be allowed to complete the Coursework or Training component. If a participant is not selected for MTPTM, they will be contacted by CARES Plus staff to chose either the Coursework or Training component. Participants who applied for MTPTM need to complete the online enrollment form by August 15, 2015. Participants who wish to apply for MTP™ will be eligible for a $1,200 stipend plus the $250 Retention stipend for a total of $1,450.
IMPORTANT: The MTPTM option requires a special application process to meet state guidelines. To be eligible for the MTP™ option, participants MUST submit an online application and two additional forms by August 15, 2015. Participants may download these forms and instructions from the online enrollment application or by contacting CARES Plus at [email protected]. Participants must apply early if interested in this
New: Join the Early Care and Education Workforce Registry
The ECE Workforce Registry is a state, regional, and local collaboration designed to track and promote the education, training, and experience of the early care and education workforce for the purpose of improving professionalism and workforce quality to positively impact children. If you would like more information or to sign up for the workforce registry, please go to its website: www.caregistry.org.
Advantages of Joining the Registry:
1. As a participant in the Registry, you will be able to build a profile of your education, permits, training and employment history. The Registry will also electronically store your education, training, and qualification documents, such as transcripts and permits. And you may also use it to build a resume.
2. The Registry offers program administrators a way of documenting the qualifications of their staff. That documentation can be used in reporting to funders and creating staff professional development plans. 3. The Registry will provide the first comprehensive look at the early childhood workforce in California as it expands to other counties toward statewide participation. This data has tremendous potential to bring about improvements to the field. By being part of the Registry, you can help to make this happen. 4. Registration fees for Registry participants in the pilot are covered by ECE Workforce Registry funders. Santa Clara County is providing incentives to the early education workforce to set up an account in the Registry and to submit their transcripts so the Registry can add this information to its profile. CARES Plus participants who successfully complete their CARES Plus requirements, set up a Registry account, and submit their college transcripts to the Registry before June 1, 2016 will be eligible to receive an additional $250 added to their stipend. More information on this process will be mailed to all participants in October 2015.ipend
Bonus Stipends :
Bonus stipends will only be available to participants who have successfully completed all of the requirements under the option they have selected.
California Child Development Permit:
Participants who possess a valid California Child Development Permit by June 15, 2016 will be eligible to receive a $250 bonus stipend. This stipend will only be available to participants who have successfully completed all of the requirements under the option they have selected. The $250 will be added to their total stipend amount.
Workforce Registry: CARES Plus participants who successfully compete their CARES Plus requirements, set up a
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CARES Plus Eligibility and Enrollment
In order to enroll and participate in CARES Plus, participants must meet the following requirements: Have access to a valid email account.
Complete an online enrollment form. The enrollment period is August 1, 2015 through August 31, 2015. Reminder: MTP™ application must be submitted online by August 15, 2015.
Be employed at a licensed center-based program or family child care home/business in Santa Clara County and work directly with a group of children under age 5 for a minimum of 15 hours per week. Note: Early educators working with school-age children in state-subsidized after-school, center-based programs are eligible to apply. Work directly with children and hold a position traditionally
referred to as assistant/aide, associate teacher, teacher,
master/head teacher, site supervisor, assistant director, program director, substitute, family child care owner, or family child care staff.
Be at least 18 years of age and have a Social Security Number. Earn $60,000 (gross) or less annually.
At the end of the program year (June 30, 2016), participants must meet the following requirements to qualify for a stipend:
Worked consistently within the same program for a minimum of 15 hours per week for at least the previous 9 months.
Submitted an Employment Verification and W-9 Form. These forms will be mailed to participants in the spring of 2016.
Developed and updated a professional development (and education) plan under the guidance of a CARES college representative or CARES specialist at the beginning and end of the program year. Completed the CARES Plus Annual Survey.
Completed all the required activities for the chosen component.
Santa Clara CARES may raise or lower stipend amounts of any component based
on the amount of available funds and the number of eligible
