MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Child Development Training Consortium is to address the critical shortage of qualified child care workers in the state of California. This program assists students in meeting the educational requirements for any of the Child Development permits. In addition, the program administers four other programs, including the Child Development Permit Stipend Program, the Career Incentive Grant Program, the Professional Growth Advisor Project and Administrator Institutes.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Child Development Training Consortium is a program funded by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division (CDE/CDD) with Federal Block Grant Child Care and Development Quality Improvement Funds. The program is administered through the Yosemite Community College District.

This program was created in 1982 to address the critical shortage of qualified childcare workers in the state of California. BC is one of the first colleges that helped form this training consortium. There are currently 94 colleges participating in California. The demand for qualified workers continues to grow. The program also supports the professional growth and development of those already working in the field. BC contracts with Yosemite Community College District and the Child Development Training Consortium to provide reimbursement to caregivers employed in Kern County. The participants must be enrolled in classes, work at an eligible childcare program (working directly with children or families), and seeking a new or maintaining a currently held Child Development Permit.

This program reimburses students enrolled in Child Development classes, general education courses, and remedial classes. Bakersfield College serve students in the Bakersfield area, Delano, Wasco, Tehachapi, Lamont/Arvin, Alpaugh, McFarland, Allensworth, Richgrove, Earlimart, Tulare County, and Shafter. Bakersfield College also provide textbook loans and/or reimburse income eligible students for their books. This program also pays for the Child Development Permit(s) as caregivers move up the career ladder (Assistant, Associate Teacher, Teacher, Master Teacher, Site Supervisor, Program Director and all permit upgrades and all permit renewals). Career incentive grants are also provided by CDTC, i.e. permit waivers, $300 (max.) to students attending non-CDTC community colleges and $800 (max.) to students attending 4-year colleges or universities, administrator institutes and The Professional Growth Advisory Project.

The Child Development Training Consortium is also meeting the Bakersfield Vision 2020 plan under Strategy #31 – Increase incentives for childcare providers so it becomes a viable form of employment.