The Child Care Training Program
The Child Care Training Program, housed within the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, serves as the Broward County Training Coordinating Agency (TCA) for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The program remains steadfast in its mission to support child care providers by offering comprehensive, high-quality training programs. Through robust community partnerships, the program enhances the retention and professional development of qualified child care providers, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the demands of their profession.
Trauma-Informed Care Training for Directors
Since 2021, the program has successfully trained over 200 Spanish-speaking childcare directors from Miami-Dade County through the Trauma-Informed Care Training for Directors course. This training, provided at no cost to participants thanks to an agreement with the Early Learning Career Center of the Children’s Forum, equips directors with essential knowledge and skills to understand and address the needs of children who have experienced trauma. By doing so, the program supports the creation of nurturing and responsive environments that cater to the emotional and psychological needs of children.
Expanded Testing Capacity and Multilingual Support
In response to the high demand within the community, the program has increased its testing capacity to nearly 1000 seats per month. This expansion ensures that more early care educators can complete their state-required training and exams in a timely manner, supporting their professional development and compliance with state regulations.
Starting in July 2024, the program will also offer exams in Creole to better serve the Creole-speaking population of Broward County. This new initiative aims to remove language barriers and provide more inclusive support for all early care educators, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to meet state requirements and advance in their careers.
Commitment to Professional Development
These initiatives underscore the program’s dedication to supporting childcare providers in both Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. By providing accessible, no-cost training opportunities and expanding testing capacity, the program not only promotes the professional growth and competence of childcare providers but also significantly improves the quality of care offered to children.
The Child Care Training Program’s ongoing commitment to excellence in training and development ensures that childcare providers are well-prepared to deliver high-quality care and education, fostering better outcomes for children and communities alike.