IMAGINE U

Becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider

What is Imagine U?

Peer-to-Peer Mentorship

Community-Based Training

Financial Incentives

Reciprocal Growth

Peer Mentorship

You will work with an experienced licensed family child care provider who has demonstrated excellence in their profession. You will spend 20 hours a month with your mentor as they observe and guide you through the daily work of a child care provider, including child guidance, interactions with parents and the logistics of running a child care business.

Reciprocal Growth

Both mentors and interns will grow professionally through Imagine U. While mentors will often teach interns new skills, there will be times mentors learn things alongside, or even from, their intern. We know relationship-based professional development is the most effective way our industry grows and evolves. This program is rooted in this investment in reciprocal growth. 

The Four Phases of Career Development 

Phase 1

Get to know your mentor. Develop a plan to become licensed. Complete all pre-requisites and WAC requirements to work in your mentor's child care.

Phase 2

Begin working in your mentor's child care. Begin completing milestones.

Phase 3

Attend STARS training on topics like the business of Family Child Care. Complete final steps before your in-person licensing orientation.

Phase 4

Finish all milestone work. Prepare for your licensing visit. Continue attending STARS training. Receive your bonus.

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The Battle Over Pronunciation

GRAPHIC ASSETS

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GRAPHIC ASSETS

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Mentor Responsibilities

• Sign and understand an agreement with the Imagine Institute
  
• Help their intern assess their readiness 
• Ensure intern meets requirements outlined in mentor's staff policies and all applicable WAC to work in their child care
• Complete a plan to help intern meet all 9 milestones
• Work a minimum of 20 hours/month with intern
• Complete a monthly report describing intern's progress
• Complete a monthly log of hours intern worked in mentor's child care
• Ensure intern is making progress to the Imagine Institute through Google Classroom
• Attend all RBPD classes and monthly technical assistance gatherings (once per month)
• Complete all RBPD/training coursework
• Help intern complete 9 licensing milestones and become licensed
• Attend weekly phone check in's as needed
• Communicate issues and questions in a professional manner

Mentor Application

In addition to meeting the program's minimum eligibility requirements, prospective mentors will also complete an application. Applicants will be chosen based on a variety of factors, such as:

-Has an intern who can participate
-Early Achievers Level  
-Language
-Experience
-Degree  
-Licensing history

-National Accreditation
-State-Approved Trainer status 
-Experience as an Employer
-Serves on ECE-related committees/boards/community organizations

The Early Care and Education Intern

Early care and education interns are individuals who are interested in opening their own family child care business. All interns must complete an orientation to the program where they will learn the requirements for becoming a licensed family child care provider. In addition to the orientation, interns must complete or are in the process of completing lead teacher requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure they meet these requirements, or refer them to the ECE substitute pool, where they can receive training to become lead teacher qualified.   

Intern Responsibilities

• Sign an agreement with your mentor
  
• Complete a readiness assessment with your mentor
• Agree to a plan to complete all milestones (including projected in-person licensing orientation and licensing visit)
• Complete and submit all milestones in Google Classroom
• Work a minimum of 20 hours a month in mentor's child care
• Become licensed
• 
  

Intern Milestones

Getting Started

Environment

Business Plan 

Finance

Enrollment and Family Engagement

Policies: Care and Curriculum

Policies: Your Program

Policies: Health and Safety  

Policies: Staff, Volunteers, and Household Members

Caring for Children with Special Needs

Pre-Service Requirements

-Apply to Imagine U

-Apply for STARS ID

-Set up a Gmail Account

-Complete an orientation

-Complete Child Care Basics Training

-Complete Safe Sleep Training

-Complete Child Abuse and Neglect

-Obtain Food Worker's Card

-Complete First Aid/CPR/Bloodborne Pathogens Training

-Complete Portable Background Check

-Obtain negative TB test

-Complete education application in MERIT

-Sign Intern Agreement

Milestones

These licensing milestones have been designed to prepare prospective family child care providers for opening a successful business. Interns must complete all nine licensing milestones before becoming licensed. They may choose to complete their these milestones prior to their in-person licensing orientation or to complete some during the period of time between their in-person licensing orientation and licensing visit. This is your decision and should be worked out with your mentor.

New Provider Award: Intern submits application for a New Provider Award and receives $4,000 toward quality improvement for becoming licensed and caring for a subsidized child.