The Child Development Careers-WORKs! program is designed to recruit California Community College students who are current or former cash aid recipients, and who wish to pursue a career in the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE).  The objective is to increase the number of qualified child development teachers and to assist current and former TANF recipients and their families in becoming economically self-sufficient. 

 

During 2004-05 program year, 49 of the 96 eligible California Community Colleges were funded through the CDC-WORKs! (formerly TANF-CDC) program for the purposes of providing additional coordination, case management, support services, mentoring, and teacher permit processing services to over 1,000 program participants. Currently, 61 California Community College campuses participate in the CDC-WORKs program.

The CDC-WORKs! program recruits and trains California Community College students who are current or former cash aid recipients and are interested in pursuing careers in the professional field of child development and early childhood education. The CDC-WORKs! program provides educational support in order to place them on the career ladder based on the California Child Development Permit Matrix.

 

In addition to tuition reimbursement and job placement assistance, the program offers a range of support services and resources to students. Participants have access to book and transportation grants, tutors, mentors, workshops, and on-campus support groups. A campus program coordinator works closely with participants throughout the duration of the program, supporting their academic achievement and subsequent job placement in the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE).

 

The Foundation seeks to eventually recruit and contract with all California Community Colleges that offer early childhood education programs.