An innovative free program provides immigrant women the opportunity to contribute to their community by offering professional services in one of its most pressing needs: early child care and education.
The ECE REACH (Early Care and Education Realizing Employment and Creating Hope) is a free job training program by Felton Institute*, Foothill College and the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) that provides access to 12 academic units in Early Childhood Education (ECE), on-the-job training and mentorship, career readiness, and paid internships. Upon completion of the one-year program, participants have the chance to obtain an Associate Teacher permit to apply for jobs with a minimum pay of $28 per hour.
“This program represents an important step towards equity and opportunity, as well as in addressing a significant need to have early childhood educators who bring their language, culture, funds of knowledge and represent the communities we serve,” says Dr. Yohana Quiroz, Felton Institute Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Division Director, Children, Youth, Family and Transitional Age Youth Services (CYFTAY). “We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the lives of our community members.”
The course is entirely taught in Spanish and in its first year has had around 35 participants, mostly women who are clients of Felton or MEDA.
“When I heard about this opportunity, I didn’t think twice about enrolling,” says Ludis Cubas, who took the program alongside her sister Selena. “I saw it as an opportunity for personal growth, to get a better job, and to help so many families who need to leave their children in good hands.”
Ludis Cubas and her sister Selena.
Ludis, like other immigrant mothers, faced barriers such as being on waiting lists or dealing with excessive prices to access childcare that would give her peace of mind.
“My baby was born in 2020, and since 2021 I started looking for childcare, but it wasn’t until August that I could find it. During that whole time, I focused on taking care of him; I couldn’t work,” says Ludis. “We have learned that the period from birth to age five is a critical stage for human development.”
Before learning about the ECE Reach program, Ludis tried to take collegiate early child education classes, but there were difficulties in pursuing the studies. Leydi Lavadores, another participant, had a similar experience. She actually registered for classes at a local college, but couldn’t finish the studies for multiple reasons. That hasn’t been the case with ECE Reach. Leydi credits the support from Felton and MEDA staff, along with the program’s design, for her success in completing the program.
“We received a lot of support; they made the experience easier for us,” says Leydi. “The teachers speak Spanish, they’ve structured a curriculum, and they even provided us with the necessary books.”
Leydi and other participants are currently focused on establishing a cooperative that provides early child education services.
“It’s an opportunity to work in what we like,” says Leydi. “We are mothers who first hand know what others go through, and with the program, we are now more prepared. We have a lot to contribute.”
Leydi Lavaderos and MEDA’s Workforce Development Coach Salma Flores.
MEDA’s Workforce Development team has been providing support to the participants, offering resume counseling, job interview preparation, and financial training.
“The participants have extensive experience in childcare in a city like San Francisco,” says Salma Flores, a Workforce Development Coach at MEDA, who has assisted Ludis and Leydi with other direct services in the past. “It’s gratifying to see how they embrace the ECE Reach program to start a profession or a business and serve the community.”
If you want to learn more about the program, contact Salma Flores at sflores@medasf.org. For other job training programs, email workforce@medasf.org.
*Felton Institute is a partner of Mission Promise Neighborhood, an anti-poverty education initiative in which MEDA serves as the backbone agency. Learn more about MPN by visiting missionpromise.org
Programa innovador ofrece oportunidades para carreras en educación de temprana edad
Un programa innovador brinda a mujeres inmigrantes la oportunidad de contribuir a su comunidad al ofrecer servicios profesionales en una de sus necesidades más apremiantes: la educación y el cuidado de los niños pequeños.
El ECE REACH es un programa de capacitación laboral de Felton Institute, Foothill College y MEDA que ofrece acceso a 12 unidades académicas en Educación y Cuidado Infantil (ECE, por sus siglas en inglés), práctica laboral y mentoría, preparación para la carrera profesional y pasantías remuneradas. Al finalizar el programa de un año, las personas participantes tienen la oportunidad de obtener un permiso de maestro asociado para aspirar a empleos con un pago mínimo de $28 por hora.
El curso se dicta completamente en español y en su primer año ha contado con cerca de 35 participantes, en su mayoría mujeres que son clientes de Felton o MEDA.
“Cuando supe de está oportunidad, no lo pensé dos veces para inscribirme”, dice Ludis Cubas, quien tomó el programa junto a su hermana Selena. “Lo vi como una oportunidad de crecer personalmente, conseguir un mejor empleo, y ayudar a tantas familias que necesitan dejar a sus hijos con personas preparadas”.
Ludis, como otras madres inmigrantes, enfrentó barreras como inscribirse a listas de espera o enfrentarse a precios excesivos para acceder a un cuidado infantil que le diera tranquilidad.
“Mi bebé nació en 2020, y desde 2021 empecé a buscar cuidado infantil, pero apenas en agosto pude conseguirlo, durante todo ese tiempo me enfoqué en cuidarlo, no podía trabajar ”, dice Ludis. “Sabemos que entre los cero y los cinco años es una etapa muy importante para el desarrollo de los seres humanos”.
Antes de conocer del programa ECE Reach, Ludis intentó tomar clases universitarias de educación de temprana, pero se presentaron inconvenientes para tomar los estudios. Una situación similar vivió Leydi Lavadores, otra de las participantes, quien alcanzó a tomar clases en una universidad local. Para ella, el acompañamiento del personal de Felton y MEDA, además del diseño del programa, han sido muy importantes.
“Recibimos mucho apoyo, nos han hecho la experiencia más fácil”, dice Leydi. “Las maestras hablan español, el currículo estaba estructurado y no tuvimos que comprar libros”.
Leydi y otras participantes por estos días se enfocan en fundar una cooperativa de cuidado de temprana edad.
“Es una oportunidad para trabajar en lo que nos gusta”, dice Leydi. “Somos madres que sabemos de primera mano lo que viven otras, y con el programa ahora estamos más preparadas, tenemos mucho que aportar”.
Si usted desea conocer más sobre el programa contacte a Salma Flores a sflores@medasf.org. Para otros programas de capacitación laborar escriba a workforce@medasf.org.
*Felton Institute es socio de Mission Promise Neighborhood, una iniciativa educativa contra la pobreza en la que MEDA actúa como agencia principal. Obtenga más información sobre MPN visitando missionpromise.org.
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