SAN DIEGO – United Domestic Workers and the UDW Resource Center announced the approval of their pioneering Family Child Care Educator Apprenticeship Program, which is designed to address the urgent need for a stronger child care workforce while empowering young adults to pursue careers in family child care.
The announcement comes during the 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from Nov. 17-23.
The program has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) as an official registered apprenticeship.
The Family Child Care Educator Apprenticeship Program is a "learn-and-earn" initiative to equip people ages 20 to 26 with the training and resources needed to become licensed family child care providers. Participants will gain hands-on experience under the guidance of UDW members who will employ the apprentices, serve as mentors, and use their expertise to prepare apprentices to open and operate their own family child care businesses.
“This program is a win-win for the future of child care,” said Johanna Puno Hester, who is deputy executive director at UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, vice chair for Child Care Providers United, and an AFSCME vice president. “Not only does it provide young adults with a viable pathway into a rewarding career, it also ensures that experienced child care providers are actively shaping the next generation of leaders in this critical field.”
Set to launch its pilot phase in San Diego, the program was developed in partnership with five family child care providers who are members of UDW. Each provider has 15-25 years of experience. The registration of the apprenticeship program with DOL represents months of strategic planning and collaboration. After securing the DOL registration, the program is expected to also be registered with California’s Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Then it will be poised to scale statewide.
“Registered apprenticeship programs are the best way to develop a skilled workforce while also helping young adults find a career that they can earn and learn in,” said Douglas Howell, DOL’s California state director.
The initiative addresses two critical needs:
- Workforce development: By inspiring and training new family child care providers, the program ensures that families have access to affordable, quality child care services.
- Leadership in child care: By mentoring apprentices, UDW members are given a unique opportunity to shape the industry’s future while elevating their roles as leaders.
“This innovative program shows what’s possible when we combine workforce development with community leadership,” Hester said. “UDW is proud to take the lead in ensuring the future of family child care is brighter than ever.”
UDW’s program is also a great example of how AFSCME’s Job Training and Development Center supports our Staff the Front Lines initiative, investing in public service workers while recruiting qualified and passionate people to work in public service.