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the Calaveras CARES Program
Frequently Asked Questions
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CARES Coursework Requirements
Q: Can a participant qualify for a stipend by attending professional growth workshops, trainings or conferences?
A: The Calaveras C.A.R.E.S (Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards) program is designed to encourage upward mobility in the early learning workforce continuum. Participants that meet the requirements for Track I may qualify for a stipend by attending workshops, playgroups, trainings or conferences. Family child care providers and staff that meet the requirements for Track II and have no ECE units may meet the annual training requirements in the first two years of participation by attending 18 hours of professional growth workshops, trainings or conferences. Child Care Center staff in Track II and participants in Tracks III and IV are required to attend and pass college coursework with a grade "C" or better to be eligible for a stipend.
Q: Which Early Childhood Education (ECE) college courses are accepted by Calaveras CARES?
A: The Calaveras CARES program accepts credit-bearing coursework designated as Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development (CD) from colleges and universities that are regionally accredited.
Q: What grades are acceptable for a CARES stipend?
A: All coursework must be completed with a "C" or higher. Courses marked "D" or "F" will not be accepted. Courses marked with "I" for Incomplete or "W" for withdrawn will not be accepted. Courses marked with an "IP" for In Progress will not be accepted. A "Pass" in a Pass/Fail will be accepted.
Q: What type of associate's degree is sufficient to qualify for Track IV?
A: An associate's degree must include the following:
- 24 units in Early Childhood Education or Child Development, including all CORE classes and 16 General Education Units
- 6 Administration units
- 2 Adult Supervision units
Q: What type of bachelor's degree is sufficient to qualify for Track V?
A: A bachelor's degree must include the following:
Option 1:
24 units in Early Childhood Education or Child Development, including all CORE classes and 16 General Education Units
6 Administration units
2 Adult Supervision units
Option 2:
BA or higher (does not have to be in ECE/CD) with 12 units of ECE/CD
plus 3 units supervised field experience in ECE/CD setting;
Option 3:
Admin. Credential with 12 units of ECE/CD
plus 3 units supervised field experience in ECE/CD setting;
Option 4:
Teaching credential (valid Multiple Subject or Single Subject in Home Economics) with 12 units of ECE/CD
plus 3 units supervised field experience in ECE/CD setting.
Q: Are equivalencies acceptable for people with an associate's or bachelor's degree who think they should qualify for Track IV or V, but do not have the ECE units?
A: No. Applicants must meet all the minimum requirements for each Track or currently hold the permit associated with the Track.
Q: Can someone count a class twice if a long time has gone by before the class is taken again?
A: No. A class may be counted only once.
Q: If I hold a current Children's Center Permit that was issued along time ago, what Track do I qualify for?
A: A Children's Center Permit is equivalent to a Teacher Level on the California Child Development Permit Matrix. You will need to meet all minimum and annual eligibility requirements for Track III Permit Level.
Q: What are CORE courses?
A: A CORE course is defined as one of the following:
- Child/human growth, and development
- Child, family and community; or child and family relations
- Programs and Curriculum
Each CORE course must be 3 semester units or 4 quarter units in the area of child/human growth and development; and child/family and community.
Q: What are GE courses?
A: GE courses are those that meet college graduation requirements:
- English
- Math or Science
- Social Science
- Humanities
Q: How are quarter units converted to semester units?
A: Multiply the # of quarter units by .67 to get the semester unit equivalent. Example: 3 quarter units X .67 = 2.01 semester units.
Q: Can a participant submit printouts from the Internet instead of transcripts?
A: No. Only original transcripts from the college Registrar's office will be accepted. Transcripts do not have to be sealed. We will accept copies of original transcripts if the original transcripts were received sealed, opened, signed and dated by the Credentialing Specialist at the Calaveras County Office of Education.
Child Development Corps Meetings
Q: Is the attendance at 2 CARES Corps meetings still required for 06/07?
A: No. Participants are only required to attend 1 CARES Corp meeting. The requirement for the second type B meeting has been eliminated.
Q: What is the purpose of the Calaveras Corp meetings?
A: The CARES program is designed to assist participants in obtaining and advancing on a Child Development Permit from the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing, advancing towards a degree, and becoming a leader in the field. The CARES Advisory Group chooses local or regional trainings for Corps meetings that will support local and state CARES goals while providing opportunities to network with others in your field.
Q: What types of workshops/trainings will meet the Corp requirement?
A: A list of approved trainings will be sent out each program year. As additional trainings are identified the list will be updated. Updated lists will be sent to all programs and past or potential CARES participants currently in our database. Please ask your program director to post notices as they are received, or check the CCR website for updated CARES information at: http://www.hrcccr.org/cares.php (make sure you are checking Calaveras information, Amador County will have different information and requirements)
Q: What if I loose my certificate of attendance?
A: The CARES program or staff is not responsible for lost documentation. Participants will be responsible for contacting the trainer for a replacement certificate.
Q: Do Corp meetings hours count as professional development hours for CARES?
A: The Corps meetings hours may be counted for CARES Track I, II or V participants that need professional development hours to meet annual participation requirements. Tracks II and V may only count the time as professional development hours if they are included on their Professional Development Plans.
Professional Development
Q: What is the policy on the use of professional development hours?
A: Only participants in Track I, II or V may use professional development hours. Although, participants in Tracks II (center and some family child care providers) ? Track IV are still required to meet annually with a CARES Advisor and complete and annually submit a Professional Development Plan, Professional Development Hours are not required.
Q: Why does the question above state that "some" family child care providers in Track II eligible to participate in professional growth hours?
A: Family child care providers with no college units are eligible to obtain professional growth hours for the first two years of the program, by the third year of participation they must start obtaining college units to remain eligible.
Q: How do CARES professional development hours differ from the professional growth hours required for the Child Development Permit?
A: This will depend on the goals you develop with your CARES Advisor and your Professional Growth Advisor; well thought out plans will meet both requirements. CARES guidelines require that participants meet with an official CARES Advisor and complete a plan before counting the activities and, that all professional development activities meet quality standards and emphasize First 5 priority areas.
Q: If I am a Track V CARES Advisor what types of professional development hours can I take?
A: 18 professional development hours are required and must meet the defined level of quality and standards in First 5 priority areas. This Track is designed to develop leadership among early learning staff and participants should choose professional development opportunities that will support their leadership roles as well as their work with other CARES participants.
Q: If I lead a workshop or present at a conference, will these activities count towards CARES Advisor's professional development hours?
A; Yes. These leadership activities may be counted towards CARES professional development hours.
Q: What are the CARES Professional Development Activities Standards?
A: The Training Standards guidelines were developed by First 5 California so that training and unit-based courses that meet the participation requirements also meet quality standards and emphasize First 5 priority areas. All professional development training/activities must be focused on working with children birth to five (accept for AB212 participant requirements).
Q: Can Track V Advisors use the time he/she spends advising others toward CARES professional development requirements?
A: Yes. CARES Advising may be counted towards CARES professional development hours. You must submit, along with the CARES applications, a log of dates and times spent in this capacity.
Q: Some professional development certificates do not have signatures ? will they be accepted?
A: If the original certificate is not available or does not contain the # of hours or a signature, the Professional Development Verification Form may be used instead ? that form must indicate the # of hours and must be signed by a contact person from the agency that sponsored the professional development activity.
Q: I received a Child Care Training and Development Opportunities Workshop Brochure from Child Care Resources, do the training in the brochure count for CARES hours?
A: The trainings in the workshop brochure will count if they meet the participant's annual participation requirements, the quality standards and emphasize First 5 priority areas. All CARES professional development training/activities must be focused on working with children birth to five (except for AB212 participants). Participants must meet with an official CARES Advisor and complete a plan before counting these activities. It is the responsibility of the participant to choose workshops that meet the First 5 Training Standards. Certificates as described above are required.
Q: Do the U.C. Davis workshops that provide academic credits meet CARES requirements?
A: All courses submitted for academic credits must be accompanied by an original transcript with a passing grade. Participants must meet with an official CARES Advisor and complete a plan before counting these activities.
Q: Can center staff substitute 21 hours of professional growth for the required 3 units?
A: No. This option is no longer available. However, this option is still available for AB212 participants.
Q: Can Home Visitor staff substitute 21 hours of professional growth for the required 3 units?
A: No. This option is no longer available.
Q: Can AB212 participants substitute 21 hours of professional growth for the required 3 units?
A: Yes. This option is still available for AB212 participants.
Environment Rating Scale
Q: What is the Environment Rating Scale (ERS or ECERS)?
A: The Environment Rating Scales are tools created by Thelma Harms and colleagues to provide a reliable measure for assessing early learning environments. The scales can be used for self-assessment by center and family child care staff, for accreditation preparation, and for program improvement by outside evaluators.
Q: Who is required to attend the ERS trainings?
A: Calaveras CARES will postpone the ERS requirement for the 06/07 program year. The determination of appropriate ERS trainings and content will be made by First 5 California. We will send out training information and opportunities as they are identified.
Q: Are CARES participants required to complete and submit an ERS self-assessment along with an improvement plan as part of the Professional Development Plan?
A: No. This requirement is not in effect for the 06/07 program year.
CARES Advisors
Q: Can I use my Professional Growth Advisor as my CARES Advisor?
A: All CARES Advisors must reapply each program year and meet Track V requirements. CARES Advisors are Track V participants, paid CARES staff or partners from local colleges or community based organizations and the only Advisors that can provide CARES advising and sign your Professional Development Plan.
Q: Can a CARES Advisor use the time he/she spends advising others towards CARES professional development requirements for Track V?
A: Yes. Professional Growth Advising for CARES may be counted towards CARES professional development hours. You must submit, along with your other required documents, a log of dates and times spent in this capacity, and the names of those you have advised.
Q: Can I choose my own CARES Advisor?
A: No. Due to equity of time, geographic locations, and stipend amounts CARES Advisors will be assigned participants to advise.
Professional Development and Education Plan
Q: Are participants with an Educational Plan still required to have a Professional Development Plan? What is the difference between an Education Plan and a Professional Development Plan?
A: Yes. A CARES Professional Development Plan involves more than education. A Professional Development Plan should fit your CARES requirements, help participants move up the Permit Matrix, obtain degree and become a leader in the field.
Q: Should non-counted hours be included in the Professional Development Plan?
A: Yes. First 5 California encourages all hours to be included, whether or not it be a CARES requirement. Participants only need to provide verification (transcripts/certificates) for activities related to CARES.
Q: Who can sign my Education Plan?
A: CARES participants must attach a current Education Plan signed by a college representative (advisor/counselor/or other identified college staff) at the college participant is enrolled in.
Q: Does the Education Plan limit which college participants can take units from?
A: No. The Education Plan is designed to keep participants moving up the permit matrix or moving towards a degree.
Q: Is there a minimum age requirement for participation in the CARES stipend program?
A: Yes. An applicant must be 18 years or older to participate.
Child Development Permit
Q: Do all participants have to obtain a Child Development Permit?
A: All participants applying for the Permit Track must have applied for an Assistant level or higher Permit to qualify.
Q: Why do FCC providers need a permit?
A: The Entry Track II does not require Permits for participants and FCC are not required to obtain units for the first 2 years in this Track. Once FCC providers move along the Tracks and toward the professional end of the continuum, the requirements for all participants becomes the same. The intent behind the requirement is that Permits help professionalize the early learning field and bring in a certain level of standardization.
Q: How do I apply for a Child Development Permit?
A: Your CARES Advisor can assist you with the following resources:
Option 1:
In Calaveras County participants may have their permit paperwork processed at the Calaveras County Office of Education (CCOE) by contacting Kathy Bettger, Credentials Specialist at 736-6002 for an appointment. The CCOE will assist applicants with the Child Development Training Consortium application listed below.
Option 2:
Submit the application to the Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC). For information or an application packet visit: http://www.childdevelopment.org or call (209) 572-6080-
The CDTC will submit the application to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
- The CDTC will reimburse the applicant $56 for Live Scan (fingerprint process required of all permit applicants). This check will be mailed directly to the applicant from the CDTC's district office.
- The CDTC will also pay the $55 application fee. This is not a reimbursement since the applicant does not have to pay this fee up front.
- The CDTC will review the application, and if it is complete, they will send it off to the CTC.
- The CTC will issue the permit directly to the applicant.
Q: How long will it take for me to receive my California Child Development Permit?
A: The entire process to receive the permit will take approximately 5 months, regardless of how the permit application is submitted.
Q: Will a letter from the Calaveras County Office of Education be accepted in lieu of a Child Development Permit?
A: Yes. A letter from the Calaveras County Office of Education Credentials Specialist stating that your application has been submitted will be accepted if the permit application was filed within one year of the CARES stipend application.
Q: If I hold a current Children's Center Permit that was issued a long time ago, what CARES permit level does that qualify me for?
A: A Children's Center Permit is equivalent to a CARES Teacher Level on the CA Child Development Permit Matrix.
Eligibility and Application
Q: Why are applications due back in February instead of April this year?
A: For data collection and program planning we are changing to a pre-application this year, participants will still be required to submit annual employment, transcripts and professional development activities by June 15th.
Q: Does the nine-month period worked have to be a period of nine consecutive months?
A: No
Q: Does the nine-month period have to occur within the time period of 7/1/06 to 6/15/07?
A: Yes.
Q: Do FFN caregivers that apply for Track I have to satisfy the 9-month worked during the past year requirement?
A: No.
Q: I took family leave this year, do I still need to meet the nine-month requirement?
A: No. As long as you worked at your current site for 6 months within the previous fiscal year and a minimum of three months within the current fiscal year and are currently back at the same work site when your receive your stipend.
Q: Can participants who work for the same program/employer/agency but have moved sites within the nine-month period still be eligible to participate?
A: Yes. It is the intent that providers are eligible if they move to different sites within one agency in order to cover those providers who may have worked for the same agency but at different sites due to administrative decisions.
Q: Are substitutes who have worked at multiple sites eligible?
A: No. Although First 5 California appreciates the value of regular substitute teachers, the goal of CARES is to improve the quality and stability of the early learning workforce.
Q: What child care center employees are eligible for participation? Can program directors who do not directly work with children qualify for a stipend?
A: Yes. The target population of CARES is ECE staff including home-based, licensed and licensed-exempt FCC providers, FCC assistants, and center-based staff in public and private child care programs in California. In center-based programs, all teaching staff and administrative staff that directly supervise staff working with children and meet the qualifications are eligible, regardless of job title.
Q: Are unlicensed providers eligible?
A: Yes, for Track I. For Track II-V an unlicensed participant must apply for licensure and achieve licensure by the second year of participation in the program (with the exception of those providing care in the child's home, those working at a public school-based site, or those employed in a facility exempt from licensure by the DSS/CCL Division because it is either administered by a Tribal Council or located on a U.S. military installation).
Q: With regards to the $60,000 maximum annual salary:
Does it apply to all program participants?
A: Yes
Is the $60,000 gross or net?
$60,000 adjusted gross ? family child care providers
$60,000 gross ? Center-based providers.
Q: Does the Permit Track include Program Directors?
A: yes, however after obtaining a Program Director Permit, a participant is expected to move into the Degree Track IV or Professional Track V to remain in the CARES program.
Q: If I have my AA degree and am currently working on my transfer units do I qualify for Track IV?
A: Yes. However, you will need to show documentation from the four-year college or university that illustrates the transfer courses needed and acceptance or provisional acceptance into a related degree program
Q: Can I stay in the Permit Track and work on getting my B.A. since the permit advancement has this included? Then I would only need to take 3 units each year instead of 6.
A: Yes, participants in the Permit Track III also can work on obtaining a degree. The Degree Track IV is to encourage more rapid advancement toward a degree.
Q: What happens if I turn in an application but don't finish my class or professional development activities?
A: You will not be eligible for a stipend if you do not meet all of the participation requirements. It is better to turn in an application by the due date even if you are unsure of whether or not you will be able to complete a class so you can receive the support services CARES has to offer and prepare for next year.
Q: I haven't taken a college class before, is there anyone who can help me prepare?
A: Yes. The CARES program offers resources and support services to assist you, please call us.
Q: Do online classes count?
A: Yes. As long as they meet they meet the requirements for the Track you are applying for and are included on your Professional Development Plan and/or Education Plan.
Q: Are family child care providers and staff eligible to participate?
A: Yes. Family child care providers and staff usually may start in Track II if they have less than 6 early childhood education units or they may qualify for one of the other Tracks if they have more units.
Q: I'm a family child care provider that became licensed in November, do I qualify?
A: Yes. If you meet all of the eligibility requirements, including the 9 month requirement.
Q: Do participants need to be licensed or work in a licensed facility to be eligible?
A: Not if the participant is applying for Track I. All participants in Tracks II ?V are required to be licensed providers, working a licensed facility, or be legally exempt from licensure. If the participant is not licensed, s/he must apply for licensure and achieve licensure by the second year of participation in the program (with the exception of those providing care in the child's home, those working at a public school-based site, or those employed in a facility exempt from licensure by the DSS/CCL Division because it is either administered by a Tribal Council or located on a U.S. military installation). These exemptions do not apply to AB212 participants.
Q: I work in a school age program. Am I eligible for CARES?
A: School age staff that work at a California Department of Education, Child Development Division contracted program and meet all other requirements are eligible to participate under AB212 guidelines.
Q: Are the requirements for AB212 participants the same or different than First 5 funded participants?
A: AB212 participants must meet the same requirements as other Track III participants with the following exceptions: services may be provided for children ages 0-13 rather than 0-5, and the annual education requirements still permit the option of obtaining 21 hours of professional growth.
Q: Why are there different requirements for AB212 and other participants?
A: AB212 funding and guidelines are developed by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division and while the CARES Advisory Group works to keep the program as seamless as possible there are minor differences in program requirements.
Q: Are AB212 participants required to meet with an Advisor and complete an annual Professional Development Plan?
A: Yes. Note: AB212 funding does not support an Advisor Track or stipends for Advisors, participants should continue to meet with their Professional Growth Advisor for the Child Development Permit and plan activities that will meet their identified goals.
Q: Is there an appeals process if an applicant disagrees with the final stipend determination?
A: Yes. An applicant may appeal the decision by submitting it in writing. The appeals process is available from the CARES Administrator.
Q: Why are some CARES checks pre-taxed?
A: Participants that work for the Human Resources Council are required by IRS laws to have taxes deducted.
Q: Is the CARES stipend check considered taxable income?
A: Yes. The stipend check is considered taxable income and should be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Q: Why do I have to complete a W-9 form?
A: A W-9 form is required from all CARES participants for verification of their Social Security number. HRC employees do not need to complete the W-9 since one is already on file.
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