New program offers apprenticeship training for Connecticut childcare workers

Connecticut’s Department of Labor and the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) has partnered with the CSEA SEIU Local 2001 labor union on a new Registered Apprenticeship Program to encourage jobseekers to enter careers in home-based childcare.

The program is a federally backed workforce training program that requires a minimum of 2,000 hours working on the job and hundreds of hours of classroom learning. Upon completion of their training, program participants will have the Child Development Associate and National Association for Family Child Care credentials. Registered apprentices are paid during their training period.

“With thousands of hours of training and education, registered apprenticeships are the gold standard in workforce development and a great fit for childcare providers and their staff,” said Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said. “Childcare gives parents the ability to participate in the workforce and fills a critical role in the economy.”

“American Rescue Plan Act stabilization grants have helped the Office of Early Childhood highlight the important work of home-based, family childcare,” added OEC Commissioner Beth Bye said. “The Connecticut Department of Labor and SEIU have developed a registered apprenticeship program that is the first of its kind in the state and will help address a significant workforce shortage in the industry. We are thrilled to partner with them to bring educational opportunity and professional association membership to family child care providers.”