Professional Development and Continuous Quality Improvement

Supports Orange County’s future, current, and expanding child care providers in strengthening their knowledge, skills, and professional growth to improve program quality and outcomes for children and families. This section provides a unified overview of professional development opportunities, resources, and strategies to support continuous quality improvement (CQI) in all early care and education settings.

Content is relevant for both Family Child Care (FCC) and Child Care Center programs. When key differences in professional development requirements, access, or resources arise, tables or side-by-side comparisons will highlight distinctions and locally available supports. Topics include training requirements and opportunities, connections to local Resource & Referral (R&R) agencies, and strategies for building effective professional relationships and communication systems. Guidance will also cover creating and using parent handbooks, developing family communication tools such as handouts, newsletters, and bulletin boards, and planning family engagement events that strengthen home–program partnerships. Additional content will focus on accreditation pathways, college coursework and credentials, mentoring and coaching programs, and participation in professional associations or networks.

This section supports all providers in cultivating a culture of lifelong learning—helping them stay informed about evolving best practices, build leadership capacity, and advance the quality of care and education for every child.