Over the past seven years, RU-CCCS has developed a number of successful models of professional development training and support services that have had a major impact in addressing the professional development needs of Camden’s childcare workforce and have measurably improved the quality of care within Camden’s childcare centers.  The RU-CCCS PDPI programs have resulted in:

• Creation of a seamless and accessible professional development system for early childhood educators that articulates non-collegiate professional development credentials and professional preparation programs within the higher education system.
• Expansion of the New Jersey career lattice professional credentials available to early childhood educators to include:

• The award of credit for the CDA credential,
• An Infant/Toddler Credential (to be implemented in 2008),
• A revised Director’s Academy, and
• The Director’s Credential (to be implemented in 2008).
• Development of a cadre of mentors to support professional development at both the director and classroom levels.
• Establishment of the College Readiness and Systems to Support College Success program as an Early Childhood Education apprenticeship model.

In addition, RU-CCCS has significantly advanced the professional credential levels of Camden City childcare professionals:

The Status of Camden Early Childhood Education Workforce 2003
62 licensed childcare centers
547 childcare professionals,
406 (51.9%) had only a high school diploma;
134 (17.1%) had a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, the first level of early childhood professional education;
59 (7.5%) had an associate degree; and
160 (20.%) had a bachelor’s degree or at least some graduate education.