Career pathways built for working adults

A supportive entry point for learners who need to strengthen foundational skills before pursuing credentials. Our adult literacy program helps working adults build confidence in reading, writing, and numeracy — so they can succeed in CDA prep, apprenticeship, and beyond.

• Foundational reading, writing, and math skills
• Supportive, adult-friendly pacing
• Bilingual and multilingual support
• Pathway to CDA prep and career credentials

Finish your high school diploma while earning a career credential aligned to workforce needs. Designed to remove barriers and help you move into stable, higher-wage work.

• Supportive, adult-friendly pacing
• Career credential aligned to employer demand
• Coaching + accountability checkpoints
• Help navigating funding and supportive services

Earn your Child Development Associate (CDA) credential with instructor-led support, practical assignments, and portfolio guidance. Available online, in-person, hybrid, and mobile pop-up formats.

• Instructor-led learning (built for working adults)
• Portfolio + observation readiness support
• Funding navigation (WIOA, SNAP E&T, TANF, Fast Track, employer sponsorship)
• Bilingual support and wraparound services

A competency-based credential pathway designed for staff who work directly with families. Strengthens family engagement, documentation, advocacy, community-resource navigation, safety awareness, and interdisciplinary collaboration — with evidence of mastery (not attendance alone).

• 112 competency-based hours
• Delivery options: 6-week virtual cohort or onsite (Mon–Thu intensive)
• 1 live instructor-guided hour weekly (virtual) + structured independent work
• On-the-job competency verification + prior-learning review (when applicable)

Family Advocate / Family Service Worker — Registered Apprenticeship Credential Crosswalk

See how EECI's registered apprenticeship pathway aligns to O*NET 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants) and Head Start Performance Standards 45 CFR §1302.91(e)(7).

Click to view full size — Aligned to O*NET 21-1093.00 & Head Start Performance Standards

Program length

112 competency-based hours

Delivery

Virtual (6 weeks) or onsite

Investment

$1,099 per participant

Core competency areas

• Professional role, ethics & boundaries
• Relationship-based family engagement
• Cultural & linguistic responsiveness
• Strengths-based practice + individualized support
• Family partnership & goal setting
• Documentation, confidentiality & information security
• Advocacy, community resources & referrals
• Family well-being, safety, mandated reporting & crisis awareness
• Team collaboration + reflective professional development

How completion is verified

Completion is based on demonstrated competency, not attendance alone. Evidence may include case responses, work samples, documentation exercises, reflective demonstrations, and supervisor/instructor verification.

Compliance positioning

This credential is designed and cross-walked to support Head Start family-services staff development and qualification review (including 45 CFR §1302.91(a) and §1302.91(e)(7)). Final determination of whether a credential satisfies a specific employee's qualification requirement remains with the local recipient/employer.

U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship in Early Childhood Education: earn while you learn with on-the-job training, related instruction, and stackable credentials.

• 2,000 on-the-job training hours
• 270+ instructional hours
• Stackable: CDA + DOL credential + 21 college credits
• Employer partnership and compliance support

We bring training to you. Mobile CDA pop-ups and onsite delivery options help rural and underserved communities access high-quality credentialing without long travel or time off.

• 2-day pop-ups or multi-session onsite cohorts
• Center-wide credentialing options
• Wraparound supports (translation, meals, childcare, transportation)
• Fast onboarding and clear milestones