If you are a licensed family child care provider, preschool staff, and Family, Friend, or Neighbor caring for children other than your own, this program is for you!

We invite you to participate in Strong Start Calaveras and receive monetary incentives and support as you grow in the field of early childhood education.

Receive money for completing:

• Annual Quality Improvement Plan Goals
• Early childhood education (ECE) and safety classes
• ECE educational units

Additional supports include:

• Learning opportunities online and in-person
• Family, Friend, & Neighbor (FFN) caregiver Engagement Activity kits
• Toolkits for Dual Language Learners (DLL) or children with disabilities
• And more!!

Learn more:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• 2025-26 Strong Start Calaveras Incentive Guidelines

Application Forms:

• Strong Start Enrollment Fact Sheet
• Enroll online!
• Strong Start Calaveras Program Application 2025-26
• SSC Participant Agreement 2025-26
• QIP goals 2025-26
• Professional Development Tracking Form
• Strong Start Calaveras Meeting Dates

Children’s Trust Fund Alliance - This online Training and self-assessment focuses on family engagement and supporting parents. Each course includes required lessons with videos, an end-of-course quiz, portfolio assignments, an individual action plan assignment, and a certificate of course completion. The online training is free of charge and funded through the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention.

Strategies TA supports and inspires cross-sector networks throughout California to advance community-driven action to strengthen children and families, centered in equity and inclusion. Recorded training sessions available.

Quality Counts California (QCC) is a statewide quality improvement system dedicated to supporting and improving the quality of early care and education throughout California. The goal of QCC is to ensure consistent, high-quality early care and education experiences for California’s infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children, whether in center-based or home-based programs.

Visit qualitycountsca.net to learn more about quality improvement efforts in California.

The Family Engagement Toolkit consists of 5 e-learning course modules: The What, Why, and How of Family Engagement, Build Strengths-based Relationships, Respect the Family’s Role in the Child’s Development, Show Cultural Respect, and Take a Shared Approach to Family Engagement

WestEd’s Early Education Effective Exchange developed Professional Development to Go (PD2GO) packs (English and Spanish), a collection of professional development experiences designed in individual, easy-to-use 15-minute "packs" focusing on continuous quality improvement in early learning programs. The 15-minute packs are supported by comprehensive resources designed to extend learning, help participants "dig deeper" into the topic, and build their skill capacity. PD2GO packs are organized into three comprehensive learning strands: Systems Thinking, Evidence and Effectiveness, and Intentional Interactions in Teaching. They also are organized by themes: Family Engagement, Dual Language Learners, and Supporting Individualization. Each pack includes an animated PowerPoint presentation, Facilitator Guide, and Handouts. They were designed for use in small groups by center directors and family childcare providers with their staff.

Playgrounds offer many benefits for children’s growth and development. Learn how programs can create outdoor play areas that minimize risk and maximize opportunities for learning and play. 

Explore these resources on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) to learn more:

• Playgrounds! Promote Safe and Fun Outdoor Play in Head Start and Child Care

The Multilingual Learning Toolkit is an online hub for FREE research-based key principles, instructional strategies, and practical easy-to-use resources that are geared towards educators who teach PreK-3rd Multilingual Learners.

IECMHC offers monthly Open-Door sessions facilitated by an experienced Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant in a confidential space for caregivers to reflect, seek supportive input, share ideas and resources, discuss development, and network within a community. Family, Friend & Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, Family Child Care Home (FCCH) providers, and center-based staff are encouraged to attend this interactive session with questions, concerns and challenges related to infant, toddler, and young children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health. 

Sessions are available in English and Spanish.

Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns provides tools and best practices to help you work with families to monitor the development of every child in your care, share your concerns with families in a positive way, and help families get connected to services and support that can make a real difference. The 1-hour training is FREE, available online, and is approved for continuing education credit. Take the training today and help make a difference in the lives of all the children in your care!

California Early Childhood Online (CECO)

Gee Whiz Education Great free activities and trainings

Business Practices in Family Child Care • 5 modules/7.5 hours total • Available in English and Spanish

Module 1: An Introduction to Best Business Practices in Family Child Care

Module 2: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 1–Program Planning) 2

Module 3: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 2–Liability) 2

Module 4: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 3 Finances and Record Keeping) 2 hours

Module 5: Sustainability in Family Child Care 2

The EarlyEdU Alliance® transforms early childhood teacher preparation by closing the opportunity gap through a collaboration of early childhood experts and stakeholders working to provide high-quality college degree programs that are accessible, affordable, relevant, and effective for current and prospective early learning professionals.

For a short time, the EarlyEdU Media Library is accessible to all! Follow this link to register for an account.

Early Childhood Investigations is an ongoing series of conference-quality free webinars for early childhood educators. The series is produced by Fran S. Simon, M.Ed., Chief Engagement Officer of Engagement Strategies, LLC.  These engaging webinars are presented by many of the thought-leaders and experts in the field of early care and education. The webinars explore critical topics that offer new ideas and insights to early childhood professionals, especially administrators. 

Note: most webinars are scheduled on Eastern Time so adjust the start time!

Center for Optimal Brain Integration trains, coaches and consults on trauma-responsive practices and strategies.

California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) is brought to you by the California Department of Education, Early Education and Support Division in collaboration with the Center for Child and Family Studies at WestEd and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA). CPIN provides high quality professional development for preschool administrators and teachers highlighting current research-based information, resources, and effective instructional practices which are focused on preparing children to flourish in early childhood and succeed in elementary school and beyond.

California Early Childhood Online - This website hosts online training in the following areas:

• Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) (20 hrs.)
• CSEFEL (Center for Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning) Teaching Pyramid (3 hrs.)
• California Early Learning Foundations and Curriculum Framework (45 hrs.)       
• 3 R’s of Early Childhood Relationships, Resilience, Readiness (6 hrs.)
• Healthy and Active Preschoolers (10 hrs.)
• Implementing the Protective Factors Framework (14 hours)

You must register for this website and retain your password. Training is free and counts for professional development.

California Early Childhood Educator Competency Series (WestEd) is a self-paced, online, professional development tool from the California Department of Education to help early childhood educators learn about the Early Childhood Educator Competencies. The Series includes an introductory video and twelve 15- to 20-minute videos, one for each Competency Context. Through interviews and examples, each video guides the viewer through the professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions of the Early Childhood Educator Competencies.

The Children’s Trust Fund Alliance’s Bringing the Protective Factors to Life in Your Work online training is for anyone who works with children and families, including parents, practitioners and supervisors. Available at ProSolutions Training, the curriculum supports the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework, and includes materials on partnering with parents and strategies to strengthen families. 

Available in English and Spanish.

Pro Solutions Training – Numerous online trainings

High Scope – Online Training, curriculum planning and more

Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System - Online trainings- focus on school age, after school and summer

Connect4Learning - Online trainings and preschool curriculum information

Child Care Aware -  Does not offer trainings, but has a lot of great information and resources

Teaching Tolerance - This is a great FREE online resource that has anti-bias frameworks, curriculum, articles, magazines and SO much more.