Union Meets The Need of Childcare Profession
The child development profession is growing and Union Institute & University (UI&U) is providing the degree needed to excel towards that growing career pathway through the Child & Adolescent Development (CHAD) Bachelor’s program major.
The CHAD program prepares graduates for a variety of childcare careers. Those professions include preschool and kindergarten teachers, childcare director and worker, and child life specialist. In addition, graduates obtain the skills needed to guide the developmental needs of children from infancy through adolescence. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the employment of childcare workers is projected to grow seven percent from 2016 to 2026.
“The CHAD degree offers many career pathways,” said Dr. Guillermina Hernandez, UI&U Site Coordinator, and program coordinator of the University of California, Riverside Extension.
A new community partnership has been formed with Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO), a nonprofit agency that focuses on helping people and changing lives through serving nearly 40,000 persons in 10 counties in California. The goal is to eliminate poverty by empowering individuals and families through an array of community-based programs. This affiliation mirrors Union’s mission to empower adults to pursue professional goals and a lifetime of learning, service, and social responsibility.
“CAPSLO wanted a partner that could upgrade the quality of the teaching staff and provide a pathway to a bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development. Many of the CAPSLO staff members have their associate’s degree so all they need is additional coursework towards a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Elizabeth A. Pastores-Palffy, Executive Director, Los Angeles Academic Center. “Union is able to fill that need. Union is able to provide classes at CAPSLO sites demonstrating its capability to be flexible and provide an adult delivery model to students regardless of where they live and work.”
“CAPSLO has many programs designed to improve success for preschool children of migrant and seasonal farm workers, overall school readiness and comprehensive child development and family support services to low income families,” said Pastores-Palffy. “UI&U will produce well-educated teachers for immigrant communities. That can only elevate the stature not only of the teachers, but also improve learning that these teachers impart to the immigrant children that they teach.”
Dr. Pastores-Palffy is proud of the affiliated faculty teaching the CAPSLO students. “Many of the faculty members are local instructors who also teach at the community colleges around the area and are very much-involved in the child development community at their respective locales. This partnership is truly transforming lives and communities.”
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