This grant will cover the salaries and benefits of five early childhood education specialists; stipends for 60 participants in the child-care licensing program; and program supplies, training, and materials.
Santa Barbara County has a well-documented, critical shortage of licensed child-care spaces. In-home caregivers wanting to become licensed providers often find the state licensing process costly and daunting. Many are lower income and non-English speaking. Children’s Resource and Referral (CRR) helps aspiring child-care providers start their own licensed programs. CRR currently has a wait list of over 100 potential providers in south county who need financial and educational assistance to license their child-care businesses.
Five early childhood education specialists will guide 60 women through CRR’s Steps to Licensing program and through the process of setting up a small, licensed, home-based child-care center. The women will learn about child development, trauma-informed care, health and safety practices, and effective family partnerships. Up to 480 new, licensed child-care spaces will be created through this expansion.
