The Workforce Development (WFD) strategy provides training, technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities to build the knowledge and skills of early childhood practitioners in three content areas: racial equity, infant and early childhood mental health, and healthy child development. WFD strengthens the professional development system for early childhood practitioners, including home visitors, child-care providers, doulas, social workers, mental health providers, and others.
Public workshops teach practitioners foundational topics, such as healthy child development, and trauma-informed engagement, and workshop facilitators are partnered with trainers who have content knowledge and expertise in racial equity. WFD also invests in mentorship, networking, and technical assistance opportunities focused on Black, Indigenous and people of color participants, and coordinates communities of practice for affinity groups of Best Starts-funded early childhood practitioners.
This strategy invests in:
Investing Early (prenatal-5)
so that babies are born healthy and establish a strong foundation for lifelong health and well-being
Estimated reach:
900 – 1,100 unduplicated providers participating in one or more large group trainings
Funding Estimate (2022-2027):
$8,305,000
