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August 24, 2002
Dear Director,
I’m pleased to be sending you information about The Vermont Registered Child Care Apprenticeship Program. Enclosed are “Statements of Interest and Commitment to Participate” forms that will enable your program and interested staff to formally state a desire to participate in this innovative quality initiative.
Only full-day/full-year registered licensed child care programs in Vermont may participated. This practice will continue, as the 4000 hours needed for apprentices to complete the Program aligns with coursework on a 2 year cycle. Funding from the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training ensured that the Vermont pilot was able to provide gradual increases in compensation for apprentices and mentor statewide. Plans are also under way to develop a long-term sustainable source of funds to sustain and expand resources to be used in this way. The apprenticeship program is an important part of a complex and large effort to improve quality and availability of child care in Vermont.
The US Department of Labor system of Registered Apprenticeship now being applied to the field of child care is creating new partnerships between business, labor and child care that should be mutually beneficial, in part, because registered apprenticeship is a well respected and understood method of training skilled workers. Key components of Registered Apprenticeship include a one-on-one relationship between a supervisor/mentor and the apprentice as well as many hours of ?related instruction? coursework takes place outside of the work environment. The Registered Apprenticeship program in child care is a 4000 hr. on-the-job experience lasting about 2 years. It includes 297 hours of related instruction.
Mentors also must participate in additional coursework and support activities related to their work with registered apprentices. The six courses designed for apprentices will also be open to all others in child care who are interested in them. The content for the apprenticeship related instruction is attached to the Standards which is included in this mailing.
A new cycle of courses will began each May and will be offered in areas of the state where the apprentices are registered. In the first cycle these areas were: Chittenden, Addison, Washington, Windham and Rutland counties. A plan is in place to expand to other regions throughout the next few years.
?Statements of Interest and Commitment? from the Sponsor (Center), Apprentice and Mentor should be submitted together (from each center) by November 24, 2002.
If you have any questions after reviewing the enclosed materials, please call Sue Ryan, Program Coordinator for the Vermont Child Care Apprenticeship Program at (802) 660-2914. US DOL or Vermont DET staff will come to formally register the apprentice after ?Statements of Interest? are approved by a subcommittee of the Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council.
Mail “Statements of Interest and Commitment to Participate in the Vermont Child Care Apprenticeship Program” to:
VT Child Care Industry & Careers Council, Inc.
53 Valley View Rd.
Middlebury, VT 05753
*Please feel free to call (802) 660-2914 with any questions!
I look forward to hearing from you and to moving forward with this exciting initiative. All statements of interest will be of help in determining need and interest in this type of project.
Sincerely,
VCC/CC
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