Eighteen Local Childcare Providers Receive $500 Stipends to Honor Their Professional Development Efforts

Press release from First 5 Humboldt:

First 5 Humboldt is excited to congratulate eighteen local childcare providers who have completed coaching and professional development training over the last year as part of the statewide IMPACT program (Improve and Maximize Programs So All Children Thrive). These local childcare providers have received one-on one coaching and completed over fifteen (15) hours of professional development training in topics including Trauma Informed Practice, Racial Equity for Early Childhood Educators, and Emotion Coaching. First 5 Humboldt, with support from First 5 California, funded the local trainings and coaching and provided a $500 stipend to each person completing this year’s IMPACT program.

IMPACT is part of Quality Counts Humboldt – a collaborative effort of First 5 Humboldt, Changing Tides Family Services, and the Humboldt County Office of Education to support Humboldt County children and families by increasing the number of high-quality early childhood care facilities and providers. Research shows that high-quality programs make a lasting difference in children’s lives.

The childcare system in Humboldt County, and around the country, was in crisis even before the pandemic, with a severe shortage of affordable high-quality programs for families, and chronic low pay for early childhood care professionals. First 5 Humboldt supports and advocates for quality, affordable child-care for everyone as part of our mission to improve the lives of children and families in Humboldt County. The IMPACT program is one of the ways First 5 Humboldt and our partners are working to support and improve childcare options for Humboldt County families.