Parent Linking Program Child Development Associate (CDA

Parent Linking Program

Child Development Associate (CDA)

Credential Stipend Handbook

Stipend Mailing Address:

Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey

103 Church Street Suite 210

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Attn: Parent Linking Program

Email: sclark@preventchildabusenj.org

The Parent Linking Program CDA Credential Stipend

Funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and administered by Prevent

Child Abuse New Jersey (PCA-NJ), the Parent Linking Program Child Development Associ-

ate (CDA) Stipend provides education funds for full-time (30 hours or more) infant and toddler

caregivers employed with a PLP child care center. Limited funding is available for the 2016-

2017 school year to support caregivers pursuing an initial Infant Toddler CDA Credential and

to cover the fees associated with obtaining or renewing their Infant Toddler CDA Credential.

The CDA Credential, administered by The Council for Recognition, is a nationally recognized

credential in the field of early childhood education (ECE) and is considered a stepping stone

on the path of career advancement in ECE and is endorsed by the National Association for

the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the one-time funding is to help

enhance the overall quality of child care services provided in our Parent Linking Program

(PLP) child care centers. It is our goal to have at least half of all PLP caregivers obtain an

Infant Toddler CDA Credential. While caregivers from all PLP sites are encouraged to

apply, priority will be given to sites with the greatest need. Applications for caregivers

from PLP sites not listed will be examined on a case-by-case basis.

PLP CDA Stipend- Initial: For caregivers pursuing an initial CDA. Applicants can re-

ceive a maximum of $550 to apply toward the cost of an Infant Toddler CDA training or

the fee associated with obtaining a CDA Credential ($425).

PLP CDA Stipend- Renewal: For caregivers needing to renew their Infant Toddler CDA

Credential. Applicants can receive a maximum of $150 toward the fee to renew their In-

fant Toddler CDA Credential. Credential must be within six months of expiring. Funding is

not available to support the training courses required to renew the credential.

This handbook will have everything you need to know to successfully navigate the process of

applying for an initial or to renew your CDA Credential. We wish you much success in your

journey to enhance your professional career.

 Sites must notify PCA-NJ of the caregivers who will be pursuing this fund-

ing on later than December 15th.

 Caregivers seeking to take advantage of this limited funding opportunity

must take advantage prior to May 15, 2017.

Good luck!

COUNTY AGENCIES CONDUCTING

IN-PERSON CDA TRAINING

NOTES

Cumberland County

Rutgers Southern Regional CCR&R

Contact: Ingrid Campbell

Phone: 856-462-6800

Email: ingridc@camden.rutgers.edu

CDA: Cost: $25.00

CDA Renewal: Yes. Call for

details.

Hudson County

Starting Points Inc.

Contact: Marsha Nivins

Phone: 201-216-1870

Email: info@startingpoints.edu

Starting Points Inc. offers

special customized training

depending on the number of

students who seek to be

enrolled.

Middlesex County Community Child Care Solutions

Contact: Sandy Dibble

Phone: 732-324-4357 ext.2853

CDA: Cost: $1,000

CDA Renewal: Yes. Call for

details.

Union County Community Coordinated Child Care of

Union County

Contact: Evelyn Gonzalez

Email: egonzalezz@cccunion.org

Phone: 973-923-1433 ext. 138

CDA: Classes are offered in

Modules. Each Module is 40

hours. Cost: $275 per mod-

ule

CDA Renewal: Modules can

be used towards CDA

Renewal

COUNTY AGENCIES CONDUCTING

ON-LINE CDA TRAINING

NOTES

Mercer County Child Care Connection

Contact: Training Department

Phone: 609-989-7940

Website: http://www.childcareconnection-

nj.org/cda.cfm

CDA: Cost $299

CDA Renewal: Cost $169

Passaic County 4CS of Passaic County

Phone: 973-684-1904 x272

Contact : Ms. Guadalupe

Email: mguadalupe@4cspassaic.org

Website: http://www.smarthorizons.org/

naccrra/pcin/index2.html

CDA: Cost $299; $729 with

Mentoring

CDA Renewal: Cost $169

All Counties ProSolutions Training

Phone: 800-939-9694

Website: https://

www.prosolutionstraining.com/content/?

id=30/cda

CDA: Cost $399

CDA Renewal: Cost $129

All Counties Atlantic Cape Community College

Contact: Heather Boone

Phone: (609) 343-4934

Email: hboone@atlantic.edu

Website: http://www.atlantic.edu/program/

degrees/professional/childDevPro.htm

See website or call for de-

tails.

All Counties ChildCare Education Institute

Phone: 800-499-9907

Website: https://www.cceionline.com/

index.cfm?id=26

CDA & CDA Renewal Clas-

ses are available in English

and Spanish. See website or

call for details.

PINJ Approved Sponsoring Agencies for CDA Training

CDA Assessment Fee

Scholarship

Atlantic Cape Community

College – College CDA

Online

Grow NJ Kids

Scholarship

Scholarship Covers: The

$425 CDA Direct Assessment

Fee

Stipulation: CDA classes must

be taken in person at an PINJ

approved agency

Scholarship Covers: The cost

of the on-line training.

Stipulation: CDA classes

must be taken on-line at At-

lantic Cape Community Col-

lege ONLY.

Scholarship Covers: The

coursework CDA Credential.

Stipulation: Non-credit CDA

training must be completed at

a PINJ-approved Sponsoring

Agency offering CDA training

Basic Eligibility Guidelines

 Applicants must be at least

18 years of age and have a

high school diploma or GED.

 Applicants must be em-

ployed as, head teacher,

group teacher, assistant

teacher in the field of early

care and educa-

tion. Volunteers and public

school employees are not

eligible.

 Applicants must be an

“Active” member of the NJ

Registry for Childhood Pro-

fessionals.

 CDA training must be com-

pleted at a PINJ-approved

sponsoring agency. For a

list of approved sponsoring

agencies go to

www.pinjregistry.org

Basic Eligibility Guidelines

 Applicants must be at least

18 years old and have a

high school diploma.

 Applicant must be employed

at their job for at least 3

months.

 Applicant must have access

to a phone, computer and

the internet.

 Applicant must be perma-

nently employed a mini-

mum of 30 hours per week

teaching in a licensed

child care center.

 Applicants must maintain an

active NJ Registry account

while on the scholarship

program.

 Applicants must remain

employed at the same

center while receiving

scholarship funds and for

one year after completing

all scholarship- funded

coursework. Leaving the

center or program before the

above requirement is ful-

filled, may require applicants

to pay back scholarship

funds received.

Basic Eligibility Guidelines

 Applicant must be an as-

sistant teacher or teacher

in a child care program,

assistant teacher in school

district preschool, or regis-

tered family child care

provider enrolled in Grow

NJ Kids.

 Applicant must be an ac-

tive member of the NJ

Registry for Childhood

Professionals and remain

an active member through

completion of courses

taken on scholarship.

 Applicant must submit

a computer-generated

course schedule and a

semester bill for the se-

mester being applied for

from the college where

classes will be taken. A

hand-written course sched-

ule or bill will not be ac-

cepted.

 Applicants attending non-

credit CDA training must

submit a letter of comple-

tion of 120 CDA training

hours by the Sponsoring

Agency on original letter-

head.

 Applicant must have

been employed 6 months

and remain employed at

this same program while

receiving scholarship

funds and for one year

after completing all

scholarship-funded

coursework.

PINJ Potential Funding Sources for CDA Credential

Parent Linking Program CDA Stipend Application

and Handbook of Rules and Regulations

YOU MUST SIGN AND RETURN THIS HANDBOOK. KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS.

Stipend Certifications: Check all of the following to indicate you understand and

agree to abide by the requirements.

 I certify that I am a caregiver employed at a PLP child care program for a minimum of

six months.

 I understand that upon completion of CDA training hours, I must submit proof of com-

pletion from the training agency verifying the completion of the training.

 I understand that I must remain employed at a PLP child care center while receiving

stipend funds AND for six months after completing the CDA coursework.

 I understand that once I receive my CDA Credential, I must forward a copy to Prevent

Child Abuse New Jersey. If I am not awarded the CDA Credential, then I must submit

a copy of the denial letter from the Council for Professional Recognition.

 I understand that all stipends (checks) will be issued and mailed directly to the train-

ing agency or the Council for Professional Recognition.

 I understand that funds are limited and not guaranteed.

Required Documentation: Applicants must submit the following:

Documentation for PLP CDA Credential Stipend–Initial

 A completed on-line application which can be accessed at https://

www.preventchildabusenj.org/programs/parent-linking-program/

 A signed copy of the Handbook of Rules and Regulations

 Completed W-9 Form

 A letter or support from the PLP Head Teacher or Child Care Director which must in-

clude the date of hire for the applicant.

 A computer-generated bill from the training agency where courses will be taken as

proof of enrollment in CDA training class (for applicants seeking to use the stipend to

pay for CDA training)

 A copy of their CDA On-line Application (for applicant seeking to use the stipend to

pay for the cost of the CDA Credential)

 Applicant must provide proof of high school diploma or GED

Documentation for PLP CDA Credential Stipend–Renewal

 A completed on-line application which can be accessed at https://

www.preventchildabusenj.org/programs/parent-linking-program/

 A signed copy of the Handbook of Rules and Regulations

 Completed W-9 Form

 A letter or support from the PLP Head Teacher or Child Care Director which must in-

clude the date of hire for the applicant.

 A copy of your Infant Toddler CDA Credential scheduled to expire within six months

 A copy of their CDA Application

By signing below, I verify that I have read, understand, and will abide by the requirements of the CDA

Stipend guidelines. You must sign one copy and submit with you application. Keep a copy for your

records.

Applicant Signature:________________________________________Date:___________________

Steps to Pursuing An Initial CDA Credential

Step 1: Determine if you meet the qualifications to obtain a CDA: If you have a high

school diploma and have at least 480 hours of work experience within the last 3 years, then

you meet the basic qualifications to pursue the credential.

Step 2: Identify a training agency that offers training: It is important to decide if you want to

take classes in person or on-line. If you take classes on-line be sure to ask if the agency offers

any support. For example will they help you putt together your professional portfolio or assist

you in writing your competency statements? For a list of agencies that offer CDA training see

page 7 of this handbook.

Step 3: Determine the cost of pursuing your CDA credential. While the PLP CDA Stipend

will cover a portion of the cost, you will be responsible for covering some of the cost of pursu-

ing the credential. Professional Impact New Jersey (PINJ) has 3 scholarships that might help

cover some of the cost. For example you may qualify for the PINJ CDA Assessment Fee

Scholarship and decide to use the PLP Stipend toward your CDA training OR you may decide

to take the on-line classes at Atlantic Cape Community College and apply for the PINJ Atlantic

Cape Community College Scholarship which allows you to use the PLP Stipend toward your

CDA Assessment Fee. For a list of PINJ scholarships see page 6 of this handbook.

Step 4: Complete the CDA Training:

Step 4A: Apply for the PLP CDA Stipend: You will complete this step depending on

what you decided in step 3. If you are planning to utilize the PLP CDA Stipend to cov-

er the cost of the CDA training and you meet the eligibility criteria, you should apply

for the PLP CDA Stipend and request PCA-NJ to pay the training agency on your

behalf.

Step 5: Complete all requirements to obtaining your CDA Credential:

 Training (120 clock hours)

 480 hours of work experience

 Professional Portfolio

 Family Questionnaires

 Identify your CDA Professional Development Specialist Click here for details on the

above requirements.

Step 6: Apply to Council for Professional Recognition to schedule your CDA Verifica-

tion Visit with your Professional Development Specialist. Once have completed all of the

requirements above, apply to schedule your visit by going to http://www.cdacouncil.org/

yourcda. When you are completing this step and you come to the “Payment Options” section

you will be asked to select your method of payment. You should select “Voucher from an

agency has agreed to pay all or part of your fee.” This will let them know that PCA-NJ will be

making a payment on your behalf.

Step 7: Apply for the PLP CDA Stipend: You will complete this step depending on what you

decided in step 3. If you are planning to utilize the PLP CDA Stipend to cover the cost of the

CDA Credential and you meet the eligibility criteria, you should apply for the PLP CDA Stipend

and request PCA-NJ to pay the Council for Professional Recognition. If you are planning to

utilize the PINJ CDA Assessment Fee Scholarship, then you would NOT apply for the PLP

CDA Stipend, but to that scholarship.

Steps to Pursuing Renewing Your CDA Credential

Step 1: Identify when your CDA expires: If your Infant Toddler CDA Credential expires in

the next six months you may apply for this stipend.

Step 2: Complete all requirements to renew your CDA Credential: Before you can renew

your CDA, you will need to complete five steps:

 Attend continuing education or training courses specific to your credential type. You

must be able to document 45 clock hours, 4.5 CEUs, or a 3 credit hour college

course in early childhood education or child development. (Please keep in mind the

PLP Stipend will only cover the cost to renew an Infant Toddler CDA)

 Choose an early childhood education (ECE) professional to write your Recommen-

dation and verify your work hours.

 Complete First Aid and Infant/Child (Pediatric) CPR certification

 Work at least 80 hours with young children (specific to your credential type) within

the past year.

 Join or renew your individual or center membership in a national or local early child-

hood professional organization

 Other requirements: Have a valid email address where you can access your email.

To help you prepare, you may download and print the Renewal Guide which is on the PCA-

NJ website https://www.preventchildabusenj.org/programs/parent-linking-program/ and the

Council for professional Recognition’s website http://www.cdacouncil.org/yourcda.

Step 3: Renew your Credential by applying to Council for Professional Recognition:

Once have completed all of the requirements above, apply by going to http://

www.cdacouncil.org/yourcda.

There are two ways to renew your credential:

 Online: Renewal fee is $125 If you are renewing on-line and you come to the

“Payment Options” section you will be asked to select your method of payment. You

should select “Voucher from an agency has agreed to pay all or part of your fee.”

This will let them know that PCA-NJ will be making a payment on your behalf.

 By mail: Submit paper application with all documentation and payment to the Coun-

cil. Renewal fee is $150. If you are submitting a paper application and you come to

Part C of the application and you must select your method of payment. You should

select “An agency is paying all or part of my application fee. I have enclosed my

payment authorization letter as a substitution for my payment.” This will let them

know that PCA-NJ will be making a payment on your behalf.

Step 4: Apply for the PLP CDA Stipend: If you are planning to utilize the PLP CDA Stipend

to cover the cost of renewing your CDA Credential and you meet the eligibility criteria, you

should apply for the PLP CDA Stipend and request PCA-NJ to pay the Council for Profes-

sional Recognition. Please note the amount of your stipend is dependent upon if you submit

an on-line or paper application to the Council for Professional Recognition.