Parent Aware seeks applicants for Parent Aware Cohort

BEMIDJI — Parent Aware is seeking applicants for the 2023 Parent Aware Cohort.

Twice per year, before June 10 and December 10, early childhood educators can submit an application to join Parent Aware. There’s no better time than now, to get one in for the July 2023 cohort.

Parent Aware’s mission is to help families find the quality care and education their children need to succeed in school and life. These child care programs all volunteered to go above and beyond basic health and safety requirements and use best practices to support child development, a release said.

The experiences children have during their first years of life will shape the adults they become, making it especially important for all children to have access to quality care and early education.

"Parent Aware is a voluntary quality rating program with no fee for the early childhood educator. Parent Aware also offers four different levels of star ratings, one to four," a release said. "Each level has different criteria and additional training that is required beyond what is expected for licensing. However, our Quality Coaches and Professional Development Staff are there to support the provider every step of the way."

Those choosing to go the full-rating pathway, receive six to 15 hours of technical assistance, ongoing professional development advising services, collect and submit documentation for their rating and receive a rating that is good for two years.

Once rated, early childhood educators can receive a grant ranging from $1,500 to $4,000. If they choose to join Building Quality, prior to their full rating, an additional $1,000 grant is available.

Providers can actually complete two rounds of Building Quality, which is 20 to 30 hours of coaching, professional development advising services and additional time to complete training requirements.

“There’s no better time than now, to call me and chat about the benefits Parent Aware has to offer for your program,” Alicia Bauman, Parent Aware Recruiter for the Northwest District said. “Our Quality Coaches and Professional Development Advisors are eager to help make sure you have practices in place.”

If you are interested in learning more about this program, RSVP to Alicia Bauman at aliciab@caplp.org or (218) 979-0783 , for an upcoming 30-minute Zoom Parent Aware Information Session. Door prizes will be given out for those that tune in. The following dates are available:

• Wednesday, March 29, at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom
• Wednesday, April 26, at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom
• Wednesday, May 24, at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom

With few exceptions, any licensed child care provider is eligible to go through the Parent Aware process and receive a rating. They receive coaching, training, grants, higher Child Care Assistance reimbursement rates, and the ability to accept Early Learning Scholarships. Over 2,900 programs in Minnesota are rated.
A full list of rated programs is available through an online search at www.ParentAware.org.