Spotlight on Child Care Answers
Child Care Answers (CCA) became part of Early Learning Indiana in 1985. At first, it provided training and support for home child care providers; today it provides support and training for all types of child care providers and early educators as well as serving as a resource and referral service for parents looking for child care, preschool, and pre-K.
One of their most popular programs is the Child Development Associate’s (CDA), a national credential for child care and early education professionals. This year alone, CCA will graduate more than 200 CDAs for professionals working in child care and early education centers throughout central Indiana.
The CDA program is also offered at Ivy Tech, but CCA’s program is special because it involves ongoing mentoring and personal guidance throughout the program. Our instructors work with individuals on any challenges – our instructors can shadow students in their classrooms and create specialized solutions to solve unique problems.
The program includes 120 hours of classes in all aspects of early education: health and safety, the classroom learning environment, lesson planning, and the business of childcare; at least 480 hours of professional experience in the early childhood classrooms; and the creation of a professional portfolio that includes a personal reflection, a summary of all education credits and experience, and a collection of important resources (sample menu, contact information for licensing for example). The CDA certificate training culminates in an assessment that includes an on-the-job observation and a computer test.
Early Learning Indiana is very proud to offer the CDA and to have such a strong team doing so much to support early education, the professionals who work in it, and the families we serve.
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