Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R), in collaboration with Forward Service and the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, launched a new “Road to Success” Program. Starting April 2025, this initiative will provide participants with the education and support needed to begin careers in early childhood education.
The Road to Success Program offers a free 14-week training designed to help individuals qualify as lead teachers in early childhood education, as well as kickstart their journey toward other roles in the field, such as assistant teachers or family child care providers. Participants will attend in-person classes facilitated by CCR&R from April 15 to July 17, 2025 at the Oshkosh Area United Way. Participants will gain hands-on knowledge through courses including:
- CPR/AED
- Mandated Reporter Training
- Introduction to Child Care
- SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Training
- AHT (Abusive Head Trauma) Training
- Pyramid Model Strategies
- WMELS (Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards)
- Skills and Strategies in Child Care
- Fundamentals of Infant & Toddler Care
- Fundamentals of Family Child Care
Additional support, such as child care and transportation assistance, may be available during the program. A mentorship opportunity for up to six months of guidance and support from CCR&R’s Early Childhood Support Coordinator may also be available to individuals who complete the program.
Interested participants can access this free program through QUEST Funding, administered by Forward Service. To be eligible, participants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Unemployed for six months or longer
- Income negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Low-income status
- No prior income
Priority registration for the program will be given to individuals who reside in Calumet, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Waupaca, Waushara or surrounding counties.
Participants must also pass a background check.
Recent child care landscape surveys highlight the significant challenges that child care programs in the Fox Valley face in recruiting and retaining qualified early education staff. Additionally, the high cost of professional development often deters prospective candidates. The Road to Success Program serves as both a recruitment tool for child care programs and an opportunity for individuals to achieve their career goals in early childhood education at no cost to them.
For child care resources, visit the CCR&R website at www.ccrrfoxvalley.org
