What is Quality?
Quality early learning and care means learning environments, relationships, interactions, and activities support all children’s growth and development to prepare them for success in school and life.
Infographic courtesy of Alameda County Quality Counts
Quality Counts Humboldt ECE Quality Improvement Grants
Quality Counts Humboldt is the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) in Humboldt County. QRIS systems are used across the country to improve and support the quality of early care and education programs. Numerous studies show that when children receive high quality care and education during their early years of life, they are better prepared for school, better readers, and are more likely to graduate high school. These outcomes benefit every child and family in our community.
Quality Counts Humboldt provides a variety of quality improvement programs that are designed to support child care providers to get professional development, set goals and/or pursue higher education.
Programs Available for 2023 - 2024:
- IMPACT (Improve and Maximize so All Children Thrive) Legacy - Funded by First 5 California, this program uses a Peer-Coaching model and participants can earn stipends for completing professional development and/or child development units
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- QRIS – CSPP (CA State Preschool Program) - Structured around the CA QRIS Rating Matrix, this program is designed to assess quality and provide Tier Ratings for child care centers based on established criteria. Programs can earn awards based on their Tier Ratings.
- QUALITY COUNTS CALIFORNIA (QCC) - A grant that enables individuals to earn incentives by completing professional development and/or child development units and working with a coach to create and implement a Quality Improvement Plan.
- PATHWAYS - This program focuses on professional development and/or higher education and is available to individuals in a variety of programs, including Family, Friend, and Neighbor Child Care Providers. Individuals can earn stipends for completing professional development and/or child development units.
You will be able to qualify for incentives from only one of these programs, so make sure you evaluate the features and pick the one that is best for you and your situation. (In some cases, you may only be eligible to apply for one or two of them depending upon what kind of child care program you operate or are employed by). Look carefully at the list below to see where you fit and which program is right for you to apply for. All participants are required to utilize the CA Early Care and Education Workforce Registry.
Eligibility (Who can apply for which program?):
- IMPACT Legacy: Licensed Family Child Care Providers, staff working in Tribal Programs and Family, Friend & Neighbor Child Care Providers
- CSPP: Child Care Centers with at least one State Preschool classroom
- QCC: Licensed Family Child Care Providers, Family, Friend, and Neighbor Child Care Providers, and staff from Center-based child care programs that do not have a State Preschool classroom, including Tribal Programs
- PATHWAYS: Individuals who work in any of the above programs that are eligible to accept state funding
Where can I get more information?
We can help explain the features of each program, but the decision of which to apply for will be up to you based on your:
* Eligibility/child care program
* Current goals
* Professional development needs
For IMPACT Legacy, CSPP and QCC:
Star Mohatt, QRIS Coordinator First 5 Humboldt
707-445-7385 smohatt@co.humboldt.ca.us
For Pathways:
Jennifer Black, Workforce Pathways Advisor Changing Tides Family Services
707-444-8293 JBlack@changingtidesfs.org
*Funding Disclaimer: Funding is limited and there are caps on the number of participants or child care programs that can be funded through each funding stream, as well as parameters for who is eligible to apply. Depending upon the funding available and the number of applicants to a program, your stipend may differ from the estimated amount.
How can I apply?
Applications can be accessed and completed through the Stipend Portal of the ECE Workforce Registry. The deadline to apply for Quality Counts Humboldt ECE Quality Improvement Grants for the 2023-2024 year is October 14, 2023. Required documents must be uploaded to the Workforce Registry no later than the deadline to be considered.
QCC Humboldt Supplemental Forms: English Español
If you need support filling out your stipend application or uploading documents for Quality Counts Humboldt ECE Quality Improvement Grants in the Workforce Registry, please see the video tutorial links below:
How to apply for a stipend: English Español
How to upload documents: English Español
Already participating in Quality Counts Humboldt? You can log into your Hubbe account here!
Interested in seeing how Quality Counts is happening around the state? Visit the Quality Counts California website!
The QRIS Consortium is a Partnership Between
Northcoast Children’s Services Changing Tides Family Services Humboldt County Office of Education 0 to 8 Mental Health Collaborative California Preschool Instruction Network Local Child Care Planning Council. College of the Redwoods First 5 Humboldt CalPoly Humboldt