WISCONSIN EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION INC

TEACH - THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP AND REWARD STIPEND PROGRAM PROMOTES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CHILD CARE WORKFORCE THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS THAT OFFER FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PAY MOST OF THE COSTS OF TUITION, BOOKS, TRAVEL, RELEASE TIME, AND A BONUS AFTER THE STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES A SCHOLARSHIP CONTRACT, IN EXCHANGE FOR A COMMITMENT BY THE STUDENT TO REMAIN IN THEIR JOB FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME. WECA ADMINISTERS THIS PROGRAM UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF) WITH FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND (CCDF). DURING THE YEAR, WECA SERVED 1,334 EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS THROUGH THE T.E.A.C.H. PROGRAM. THE R.E.W.A.R.D. PROGRAM IS A COMPENSATION INITIATIVE THAT AWARDS STIPENDS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS BASED ON EDUCATION ALREADY ATTAINED AND YEARS WORKED IN THE FIELD. WECA ADMINISTERS THIS PROGRAM UNDER CONTRACT WITH DCF WITH FEDERAL FUNDS FROM CCDF. WECA PROVIDED 18,359 STIPENDS THIS YEAR THROUGH THE STATEWIDE REWARD PROGRAM AND 3,109 STIPENDS THROUGH THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE WORKFORCE STIPEND PROGRAM.

SHARED SERVICES - THE WISCONSIN EARLY EDUCATION SHARED SERVICES NETWORK (WEESSN) OFFERS FREE, COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE BUSINESS COACHING, TECH SOLUTIONS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE EDUCATOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP), AND FOOD SYSTEMS INFORMATION. PROVIDERS BENEFIT FROM CUSTOMIZABLE TEMPLATES, TAX GUIDES, DISCOUNTED PURCHASING, AND A DIGITAL HIRING PLATFORM. WEESSN ALSO FEATURES A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER POOL IN SELECTED REGIONS, A STATEWIDE LISTSERV, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, AND MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS. WITH 2,383 PROGRAMS ENROLLED, WEESSN OFFERS STATEWIDE SUPPORT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, HELPING PROVIDERS ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY, IMPROVE QUALITY, AND BETTER SERVE STAFF AND FAMILIES.