Professional Development Programs
Professional Development Programs
Our Professional Development Academy offers a wide variety of classes for all early learning educators. Our classes include high-quality, cost-effective, culturally responsive education for all experience levels and types of early learning educators.
Taught by state-approved instructors with years of varied experience across all core competency areas and levels. Supported with follow-up coaching, as appropriate and needed.
Our service area is Eastern WA: Asotin, Benton, Franklin, Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Orielle, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties. Reimbursed through MERIT, for those with a MERIT account.
Our team is able to offer classes in both virtual and in-person formats. We are committed to facilitating professional development opportunities so that we can all stay engaged and learn from each other.
MERIT Reimbursement
building professional profiles for your child care workforce
MERIT is an online tracking system for childcare providers to log their professional development and continuing education hours. Everyone visiting the PD page will already have an account and be well versed in the system.
Does DCYF offer reimbursement for state-approved training registration costs for professionals currently employed in a licensed facility? Yes. You may apply for a training reimbursement once per DCYF fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) for up to $250, while funding is available. Our classes are MERIT-approved and qualify for reimbursement.
Custom Training Opportunities
customized classes for your professional programs
Child Care Aware of Eastern WA offers customized classes for center directors and family child care groups who want to provide Professional Development opportunities for an entire program. We can offer customized training led live over Zoom or in-person
Customized Classes:
- Are based on a program’s current needs and goals.
- Provide an entire staff with the same foundation of knowledge.
- Are fully aligned with Early Achievers, ECEAP, WAC.
- Are offered in collaboration with Early Learning coaches, who can reinforce learning.
- Our team will work with your program to keep costs maneagable.
Customized training must be scheduled at least 4 weeks before scheduled training date, to ensure trainers are available and time for development or customization of content is accessible.
For more information on customized training, or interest in scheduling contact your designated Early Learning coach, Early Learning Mental Health Consultant or our Professional Development team at professionaldevelopment@community-minded.org or 509-385-2780.
Electronic Attendance System
As of July 1, 2018, all providers accepting Working Connections Child Care subsidies are required to track attendance using an electronic attendance system. This applies to child care centers, family home child care providers, and Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers.
Training on DCYF’s electronic attendance system is available online in English, Spanish, and Somali. To access the online training, start here.
For general information about electronic attendance requirement, visit the link below!
Policies for Classes and Trainings
Child Care Aware of Eastern WA is committed to providing you with the highest possible standard of service. The following policies were designed to assist you in making informed decisions when using our site, products, and services.
Class Fees
Please pay for your class in advance; our instructors do not accept payments at class. This policy helps us decide whether we have enough participants to hold the class as planned. (Classes are usually cancelled if at least five people have not registered and paid.)
Late Arrival Policy
Please arrive to class early to minimize disruptions and to respect the trainer’s plan for the class. In accordance with ethical issues around giving STARS credit if you arrive 15 minutes late you will not receive credit for the class.
No Children in Classes
Our classes are designed for adults, so children are not permitted to attend our classes in person. This minimizes distractions for everyone and supports adult learning.
Class Cancellation & CCA of Eastern WA Office Closure
We post class cancellations on our website and will call or email all class registrants to notify them of a cancellation. CCA of Eastern WA follows the weather closure decisions of the local School Districts when classes are held in person. If the district announces school closures or delayed openings, CCA of Eastern WA offices are also closed or delayed.
Accommodations
If you need to request any type of accommodations for your training, please contact our Professional Development Department at professionaldevelopment@community-minded.org or 509-474-1836.
Please allow two weeks notice for accommodations for your training.
Refund Policy
Please call our Professional Development line at 509-474-1836 to cancel your registration or for some classes to replace with another person. There are no refunds for cancellations.
If a class is cancelled by CCA of Eastern WA or is rescheduled to a date a registered participant cannot attend, you will be offered a refund or a coupon on future training (within that year) equal to the amount paid for the cancelled training.
If a participant does not attend the class, no refunds will be given.
If a training is cancelled due to low enrollment, inclement weather, trainer illness/emergency, registered participants will be offered either a refund or a coupon on future trainings equal to the amount they paid for the cancelled training, to be used within that fiscal year.
Related Services at CME
Early Achievers
Early Achievers works with child care centers and family home providers to improve the quality of their programs through Washington State’s Quality Rating and Improvement…
Early Childhood Education Assistance
The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is Washington’s pre-kindergarten program preparing low-income children for success in school and in life…