Foothill College is a Cares Partner

CARES is a financial stipend program designed to encourage and reward educational attainment for early childhood education professionals. Since its inception in 2002, CARES, which stands for Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards, has awarded $17 million to nearly 4,900 early educators in Santa Clara County. This represents more than 79% of the estimated providers in this county.

The CARES program helps build a skilled, stable, early education workforce by linking monetary rewards with educational attainment and professional development. Child Development students may qualify for a stipend ranging from $200-$4,000, based on their level of education in early childhood education.

Marian Browning is the on-site CARES Representative for Foothill College. The CARES office is located in Room J-2B at the Middlefield Campus. If you are working with children (ages 0-5) for a minimum of 15 hours per week in a licensed child care center or family child care home, you should contact her to schedule an appointment to see how to qualify for cash stipends. She will also help you with translation and evaluation of international transcripts and California child development permits. Call (650) 949-6962 for more information.


Carter Strain: A CARES Success Story

Carter Strain has been a CARES participant for four years and is also a graduate of Foothill College with Associate of Arts degrees in History and Child Development. Currently, Carter works as an assistant director in an after-school program. Besides the annual stipend program, CARES has helped Carter obtain a child development permit and he is currently participating in the E3 Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development program in conjunction with San Jose State University. This is a free tuition program to advance the education level of the early care and education workforce.

Marian Browning met Carter when she became the CARES College Representative for Foothill College, as he was on her list of CARES participants. She met Carter while she was at his work site to do Professional Development and Education Plans (PDEPs) for his coworkers. Being at Step 7, it was not mandatory for him to have his plan updated. However, he did have a question about the leadership requirement, and during their discussion, she asked him if he was interested in pursuing a BA. Carter reflects back about their conversation, "I never heard of it and I was being told CARES could help you finish your degree and I was interested and as I recall I went ahead with all due speed. The next thing I knew I was calling Mimi Munoz to arrange being in the program and I went to San Jose State to speak with Toni Campbell and got accepted and have completed a nutrition class already."

When she recently met with Carter, Marian asked him about his memories of being at Foothill and he replied, "Well, I'm really glad that Foothill College is there. I think community college is affordable and near your home or place of work. I'm just so glad Foothill was there because I was able to take the classes I needed. I met a lot of energetic and exciting people. I just thoroughly enjoyed my time there. It was like family, especially within the Child Development Department because we were in the same classes with the same people. We would have a potluck at the end of every class and I was sorry to graduate, but of course it was a tremendous milestone of achievement for my life. The quality of the classes was great and the books were very relevant. I think there is a good age range, too."

When Marian asked Carter to share what he wishes he could change about the early care and education field, he said, "Well, I wish more young guys would try this job...guys like 18 to 25. It's great preparation if they ever want to have children. It's just a fun experience. You get to go out in the field and play; you cook with the kids and do all these things. It's interesting; it's exciting and is available part-time if you are in school."

If you are interested in working with children, consider the Child Development program at Foothill College. If you currently work with children and want to become a part of the CARES Program, please contact Marian Browning and schedule an appointment to discuss an education plan and goals.

Story by Marian Browning

I like this field because it's such a variety...everyday is so different; it doesn't get stale.

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