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Who
can become an Apprentice?
A person can enroll in the Apprenticeship for Child Development
Specialist program if working full time providing care for children
in a supervised setting. The person must be motivated to further
their career in early care and education and make a commitment to
the program. The ACDS program offers the apprentice increased job
security, possible wage increases and the opportunity to earn college
credit.
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What
topics does ACDS training cover?
ACDS classroom training covers the following topics:
• role of early childhood professional
• child development
• observation skills
• developmentally appropriate curriculum
• health and safety
• positive guidance
• effective communication
• diversity
• ethics
• administration
• resources
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Why
do you have to be working to enter the program?
The Apprenticeship model is based on the idea that adults learn best
when there is a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on
experience. Providers who participate in the program can practice
what they learn at work, in a supervised environment. An apprentice
can have practical experiences about such things as
• observing children
• classroom management
• partnering with families
• communicating with staff
• practicing first aid, health and safety
• advocating for children
• community involvement
• teaching children in the child care environment
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What
kind of recognition do you receive for completing the program?
Upon completion of the training program, an apprentice receives a
nationally recognized certificate as a Child Care Development Specialist
from the U.S. Department of Labor.
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Can
ACDS training be counted as credits toward a college degree?
Community and Technical Colleges/Divisions of the following institutions
currently offer credit toward the Associated in Applied Science
degree for ACDS graduates who enroll in the college program:
Marshall University
WV State College
Shepherd College
Fairmont State College
Bluefield State College
WVU at Parkersburg
Potomac State College
Northern Community College
Glenville State College
Southern Community College
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Is
ACDS training counted toward a four-year college degree?
Negotiations are in progress with Marshall University and Fairmont
State College for credit toward the four-year program.
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Why
should employers participate?
Employers who supervise apprentices have a lot to gain by their
involvement in the program. Their workers will become more competent.
Support will reduce turnover and help to retain qualified staff.
By employing well-trained, consistent providers the quality of the
child care program will be enhanced and the program will become
more marketable.
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How
many people have benefited from the program?
More than 4,000 young children and their families have benefited
from staff participation in the registered ACDS program.
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Who
should I contact if I need to cancel a class?
All the apprentices need as much notice as possible. A phone tree
for getting the word to all apprentices would be helpful as well
as a preset policy of what will happen if a class has to be canceled
Your regional coordinator, either Traci Dalton 414-4465 in the north
or Enola Foust 425-4545 in the south should be notified. Before
canceling class, try to find an instructor in your area who can
sub for you.
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Can
we hold 2 classes per week in order to catch up?
ACDS Policy is 1 class/week. Apprentices need to have enough time
to do all their homework, observations, etc. It is a good idea to
build an extra day into your syllabus just in case you have to cancel
class for bad weather. Then if you don't need to use it, your apprentices
will feel like they got out early.
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Do
we have money for graduation? Who pays for pins?
There is no state money for graduation or pins unless the county
decides to use a minigrant for these purposes. Many apprentices
pay for their own share of graduation or their directors might pay
for their part. Graduation can be as simple as punch and cake or
dinner for the whole family. It could be covered dish, etc., whatever
the apprentices choose to do.
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Are
family providers allowed to take ACDS classes?
Family providers can take classes if they can find someone who can
mentor them (visit them twice/month, sign their JT logs and their
evaluations). This is a system we are working on right now.
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How
do you become an acds instructor?
To become an instructor, you must submit an application, be accepted
and take a 5 day academy. To qualify, you must have at least a bachelor's
degree in early childhood, child development or elementary education
and have at least 1 year's experience working directly with children.
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What
is the payment process for instructors?
At the beginning of the semester each instructor signs a contract
and submits it to the ACDS office. At the end of the semester after
registration forms have been submitted to the ACDS office as well
as evaluations and an invoice, a check is written from the RVCDS
office and sent to the instructor.
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Are
there classroom resources available for instructors to use?
Each county has a central library with resource materials including
a doll, videos, books and children's books. Each instructor has
a copy of the student textbooks, the instructor reference book,
the curriculum and resource manuals for each semester.
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Where
can I get the most recent forms?
All the forms are on the website, at www.wvacds.org. After the home
page is opened, go to partners, then wvacds, then whatever category
you fit in.
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How
can I get information on a local representative?
Call the ACDS office at 1-800-WVA-ACDS or email Suzi Brodof at suzilb@aol.com.
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Are
there opportunities for journeypersons?
Twice each year there are all day seminars available free of charge
to any journeyperson.
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I
am a journeyperson, but I never got any ACDS information. What should
I do?
Contact the ACDS office and request a form to complete to get on
the mailing list.
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Are
there established time frames stating when classes need to begin or
end?
Classes can start and end whenever the county chooses as long as the
classes are held for 15 weeks.
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I
am a director and want to learn about my roles and responsibilities
as a sponsor. How can I find out this information?
You can attend a workshop at any of the state wide conferences,
including Celebrating Connections, Huntington Area Early Childhood
Conference, WVAYC or you can contact the ACDS office and ask for
information.
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Where
do I get certificate of completion forms?
These forms are sent by the Department of Labor to the sponsor of
each registered program. It is up to the sponsor to complete this
form when each apprentice completes all their classwork and their
required OJT hours.
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I
recently began working at a different child care center. Are there
any forms for me to complete?
There is a change of status form that you can get from your instructor,
or call the ACDS office, or go on the website. The form should be
completed and given to your instructor.
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When
do I get my college credits and how many do I get?
After you take the required basic classes from your community college,
the credits from ACDS will appear on your transcript.
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