Child Care Workforce Development

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You are on this page: Child Care Workforce Development

Overview

Finding and hiring staff can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Below you will find resources to assist with finding and hiring staff. There are many low- or no-cost options to help you advertise about any job openings you may have. If you are interested in finding a position with an early childhood or school-age program, please use the information below to find job postings and learn about different opportunities and trainings available.

Early Childhood Workforce Recruiting & Hiring Tool Kit

The toolkit is a comprehensive guide which includes useful strategies and templates that can assist early childhood programs in recruiting, hiring, and onboarding quality staff.

Please be aware that the documents and templates you find in this toolkit are provided as samples only. All tool kit samples should be thoroughly reviewed and customized by your program to ensure representation of the program’s unique needs and goals.

NYS Department of Labor Job Bank

NYS Department of Labor has created a new job bank specifically to support child care programs in finding qualified candidates.

Promotional Images

The following graphics are available to assist child care programs with recruiting quality employees.

All images are in JPEG format.

Employee Recruitment

Below are several helpful tips and tools to assist child care programs with recruiting quality employees for their program, including recruitment strategies, sample interview questions and job posting templates!

Assistance from New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL): Recruiting Child Care Workers

Recruiting staff to your child care program can feel like a daunting task. The NYS Department of Labor (DOL) can help in a variety of ways. DOL Career Center staff can help create a job posting, advertise open positions on state job boards and review applications.

Child care programs can obtain assistance virtually via the phone, web or email; or in person at local career centers.
Early Childhood Career Development Center – New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute

Job Opportunities provided by New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute’s Early Childhood Career Development Center
This job board allows providers to post job opportunities in a variety of early childhood positions and settings. There is a step-by-step online form to help post your positions.

Job Posting Tips

When posting your job opening, consider including the following information:

  • Position Title – ex. Child Care Teacher, Preschool Teacher, Child Care Assistant, etc.
  • Location/Company Name (you can be vague if you don’t want to use full address or business name. Ex. “Greater Rochester Area,” “Albany, NY,” “On 123 Bus Line.”)
Keep in Mind:
  • Every job searching website (Indeed, NYS Job Bank, ZipRecruiter, etc.) will have different formatting requirements.
  • Many websites have online forms you can fill out with the requested information.
Marketing

Below you will find tips to help market your program specifically to potential hires, including a few marketing strategies and editable templates to assist you in attracting quality applicants to your program!

25 Ways to Market your job - © 2022 Early Care & Learning Council

12 Tips to Market Your Child Care Program - © 2015 Child Care Aware® of America

Sample Interview Materials:

Preparing interview questions is very important to ensure you get the best candidate for the position. See the link below from Indeed.com for sample interview questions for child care workers.

Sample Materials from Indeed

Potential Early Childhood Education and Child Care Staff Professional Supports

For individuals interested in joining the early childhood education workforce, below you will find helpful resources to support professional development and financial resources to support educational opportunities.

New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute (PDI) Career Development Center

The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute (PDI) is a public-private partnership that brings together a range of city agencies, a consortium of private funders, and the nation's largest urban university to build a comprehensive system of professional development for individuals who work with young children in New York.

“PDI leads the work to establish and implement an early childhood workforce system to ensure funding, standards and competencies, career development resources, qualifications and credentials, professional development (training and strengths-based coaching), and program quality assurance and improvement for individuals who work with young children throughout New York.” - The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute (PDI)

Phone Number: (718) 254-7353
Email: careeradvisor@earlychildhoodny.org
Website: PDI Career Development Financial Aid

Educational Incentive Program (EIP)

OCFS funds the NYS Educational Incentive Program (EIP), a scholarship program that helps child care providers pay for training and educational activities with the intent to build provider knowledge, skills and competencies in order to improve the quality of child care. To be eligible for EIP, child care providers must be required to take training and must be caring for children in a program regulated by OCFS or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH).

Applicants must provide a completed application by December 1, 2024, to be considered for a scholarship.

The maximum annual award amounts are:

  • College courses: $2,500
  • Child Development Associate and all other pre-approved credential training: $2,500
  • Coaching: $1,100
  • CPR/First Aid: $125 classroom, $95 online with face-to-face skills testing component
  • Trainings, conferences and workshops: $700

For more information about educational support, visit:

The Professional Development Program

EIP Scholarship Application and Information Booklet

Technology Resources
  • SUNY’s Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) labs are publicly-accessible computer labs across New York State. ATTAIN Labs offer classes from basic computer use and media literacy up to advanced Microsoft certifications.
  • The USAC Lifeline Program offers lower-cost cellphone access to people who qualify.
    • Lifeline Support: Lifeline is a federal program dedicated to making phone and internet service more affordable for low-income households. This benefit provides eligible consumers with a monthly discount of up to $9.25. Consumers living on Tribal lands are eligible for an enhanced discount of up to $34.25 per month.
    • Official FCC site for Lifeline

Just for School-Age Child Care Programs!

Below you will find links for resources specific to School-Age Child Care Programs, including regional networks and a recruitment tool kit.

New York State Network for Youth Success

The New York State Network for Youth Success (NYSNYS) supports the capacity-building of afterschool programs at the local level through regional afterschool networks. In addition, NYSNYS works closely with leading afterschool stakeholders in New York City.

NYSNYS Regional Networks

There are currently 15 regional networks throughout the state affiliated with the NYS Network for Youth Success. Regional networks help share best practices and coordinate local professional development resources for programs and providers. Regional networks also provide effective means to distribute information and engage programs and parents on state and local policy issues.

2021 Afterschool Staff Recruitment Tool Kit

This staff recruitment tool kit was developed by the New York State Network for Youth Success to assist in recruiting staff for afterschool programs. It provides sample messages, job posts, etc. as well as funding ideas.

NYS Network for Youth Success Afterschool Staff Recruitment Tool Kit

Workplace Wellness

Workplace wellness is an important aspect to recruiting and retaining staff. Below are resources targeted to assist providers in ensuring that their program prioritizes workplace wellness and health, as well as assisting new hires in maintaining a healthy work/life balance.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center provides resources that can help agencies and programs implement staff wellness supports. These resources help in developing a culture of wellness for staff by focusing on overall organizational wellness.

Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center

The Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center provides a variety of wellness strategies that promote both physical and mental health of staff. In the resources below, learn ways to promote a culture of wellness for young children and the adults who care for them.

Promoting Staff Well-Being

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