Professional Development Incentive Program
Child care providers are charged with ensuring that the children in their care receive well-rounded and appropriate tools to help them develop into successful learners. Many providers cannot afford to stop working in order to continue their own education or certification. We support providers by offering programs and incentives that allow them to continue working while advancing their own professional goals and education.
The Professional Development Incentive Program (PDIP) is exclusively offered to SRPA participants. This program assists early childhood professionals in reaching their educational goals. The PDIP offers scholarships for continuing education and annual bonuses for staff that maintain uninterrupted employment with their sponsoring center or family childcare home, as funding allows.
Benefits
Participants will receive support and guidance to create and meet professional development goals
Participants may earn up to a $250 bonus annually for each completed TEACH contract
Participants will have the opportunity to pursue formal education using the TEACH scholarship without the out of pocket expenses (participant and sponsor percentages funded by the PDIP – release time is the responsibility of the sponsoring center)
Participants are eligible to receive an annual stipend for continuing their education and remaining employed at their sponsoring center (stipend amounts are based on the level of education achieved and as funding allows)
For more information, contact Amanda Houston at 727-400-4467 or ahouston@elcpinellas.org
EARLY LEARNING COALITION ACCREDITATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ELCAAP)
ELCAAP is Early Learning Coalition Accreditation Assistance Program (path to accreditation). The Coalition will help you work toward accreditation by aligning the many pieces of early care and education, such as child care licensing, accreditation, program assessment, technical assistance, coaching, and professional development. This program requires commitment of staff to complete formalized education plans and obtain credentials as needed. The Coalition will assist with accreditation fees and professional development costs.
For more information contact Sima Saffary at ssaffary@elcpinellas.org.