Child Care WAGE$® FLORIDA Project
Palm Beach County Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Child Care WAGE$® Florida Project?
The Child Care WAGE$® Florida Project is designed to increase stability and improve child care quality by reducing turnover and encouraging continued education of child care practitioners (teachers, assistant teachers in centers and family child care homes). This program provides education based salary supplements for low to moderate wage earners who work with young children ages birth to five.
Where does the funding come from?
The Child Care WAGE$® Florida Project in Palm Beach County is funded by the Children's Services Counsel through a contract with Palm Beach Community College. The Children's Forum is the licensee for Child Care WAGE$® in Florida and currently administers this program in 4 participating counties in partnership with local funders.
Who is eligible to participate in the program?
Child care practitioners working directly with children for at least 20 hours per week earning less than $14.00 per hour may be eligible for a salary supplement if they have some formal child care training and/or education beyond a high school diploma(Note: Directors may work a minimum of 10 hours a week in the classroom). The child care center or family child home where they work must participate in Palm Beach County's Quality Improvement System (QIS).
How much can I receive through Child Care WAGE$®?
The value of each salary supplement is determined by the level of education and the position held by the child care practitioner. For example, a teacher or family child care provider is eligible for a $450 annual supplement for possessing a national Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and can earn $1,500 per year with an AS or AAS in Early Childhood Education. The amount of supplement increases as the level of education increases. Wage supplements for part-time practitioners are prorated based on a 40 hour work week.
How do I sign up to participate in the program?
Interested child care practitioners must complete the Child Care WAGE$® Florida Project application and provide verification of: (1) current employment in a QIS care/early learning program. (2) current salary, and (3) educational credential and/or unofficial transcripts.
When will I receive a check?
Each participant who meets the requirements for the Child Care WAGE$® Florida Project and remains eligible will receive a supplement check in the thirteenth month, after the completion of a full year of employment at her/his center, checks will then be issued in six-month increments. The commitment period means that the practitioner has remained continuously employed in their QIS child care or early learning center or family child care home. The commitment period is established for each individual practitioner based on the application date, date of employment and documentation of education. The amount of the salary supplement is based on one half of the annual award amount and reflects the schedule worked during the six-month period (part-time prorated or full time). All payments are contingent upon funding availability.
Before checks can be issued, project staff must verify continuous employment with their employer for the preceding six months, Once approved for a supplement payment. Participants who remain in the same child care program do not need to reapply in order to receive future supplement checks. Participants who leave their place of employment must re-establish eligibility for WAGE$.
How can I increase the amount of money I receive through Child Care WAGE$®?
Child care practitioners participating in the Child Care WAGE$® Florida Project may increase their supplement award amounts by successfully completing additional education. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program and the SEEK scholarship both offer scholarships to the child care practitioners to earn credentials or degrees in early childhood education.
How can I find out more information about this program?
Contact Debbie Mazzota at 561-868-3670 with PBCC, or the Child Care WAGE$® Florida Project at the Children's Forum at the Children's Forum at wages@thechildrensforum.com or call toll-free (888)352-4453 or visit www.thechildrensforum.com
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You can now download the Child Care WAGE$® Florida Application to print and send in. Answer EVERY QUESTION on the application. Additional documentation must accompany a completed application (see list on page 3). If you have any more quesions, the Informational Brochure is available for download. If you are a family child care home provider you will also need to fill out the FCCH income worksheet.
The Child Care WAGE$® Florida 2006-07 Annual Report is now available for download.
To learn more about the WAGE$ Project contact Qiana Carter at: 888-352-4453 or email Qiana at qcarter@thechildrensforum.com.
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Children's Forum
2807 Remington Green Circle
Tallahassee, FL 32308
888-FL-CHILD
Telephone (850) 681-7002
Fax (850) 681-9816