Childcare Innovations: Creating Opportunity from Challenge

The YWCA Metro St. Louis Early Education Program, Head Start Grantee and Women’s Economic Stability Partnership (WESP) programs have responded to this shortage by creating the Successful Pathways Child Development Associate (CDA) Apprenticeship.  Through this collaboration participants are enrolled in both the newly certified apprenticeship program with the Department of Labor while receiving WESP Social Determinate of Health (SDOH) services to support the successful completion of the program.  The Successful Pathways Apprenticeship is an accelerated opportunity to obtain a CDA credential while being paid to work in the classroom.