The Forum understands that the Early Care and Education (ECE) field in the state of Florida is composed of thousands of smaller organizations with limited resources. In an effort to support the overall quality effort, the Forum provides access to professional services at a reasonable cost, tailored to the ECE field, that would normally be out of reach for many organizations. These supports include:
Create Your Account and Become a Member Today!
We know you work tirelessly to prepare young children for We know you work tirelessly to prepare young children for success in school and in life. That’s why the Children’s Forum provides affordable and valuable membership opportunities to support early educators, teachers, and directors.
A Children’s Forum membership:
- Satisfies the “membership in a professional organization” requirement for credential renewals such as a CDA, FCCPC, or Director Credential.
- Assists program directors with fulfilling their Professional Contribution Requirement (PCR) for the renewal of their Director Credential.
Learn more about our membership options and which type is best for you by clicking on the links below:
Children’s Forum members receive the following benefits:
- Fulfillment of membership requirements for credential renewals
- Discounts on professional development, training, and classroom supplies through our partner organizations
- Issues of Florida’s Child, our e-newsletter, delivered to your inbox
- E-mail notifications of legislative issues and other topics affecting the field
- Recognition in the Forum’s annual report as an active member and supporter
- Advocacy to legislators and business leaders on the important work you do for young children
Questions? Call 888-352-4453 and ask to speak with Membership Services.
The Children’s Forum is on the front line of research on the early care and education (ECE) workforce and the impacts of local quality improvement initiatives in Florida. Armed with a staff bearing collective work history in diverse settings like state departments, academia, and ECE programs, the Forum is adept at sharing findings with wide audiences.
Research shows that early learning experiences impact children’s brain development, well-being, and academic success.
Rigorous research is essential to inform policy and practice decisions to positively influence children and those who serve them.
The Children’s Forum manages both of the ECE workforce data registries in Florida (located in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties) and conducts policy relevant studies in the field. Recent examples include:
For additional information or a quote for management, research, and evaluation services, please contact:
Dr. Melissa Clements or Dr. Phyllis Kalifeh
(850) 487-6300
The Children’s Forum is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). The Forum complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, the Children’s Forum is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The International Association for Continuing Education and Training is a non-profit association dedicated to advancing the global workforce by providing the standard framework for quality learning and development through accreditation. The history of the association includes the development of the original Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and creation and maintenance of the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training.
IACET uses the ANSI/IACET Standard, in-depth research on the learning process and a nationwide network of experts to help continuing education and training providers develop a framework for continuous improvement and high-quality learning experiences. Organizations that complete the process to become an accredited IACET provider are able to offer the IACET CEU.
The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) grew out of a National Task Force on continuing education commissioned by the United States Bureau of Education (now the Department of Education) in 1968. The task force included the leaders in continuing education, such as the American Medical Association and American Nursing Association. The Task Force determined the universal guidelines for continuing education and created the Continuing Education Unit (CEU). IACET was created by the task force to provide both a forum for discussion of education standards and an organizational body to promote quality standards. IACET’s guidelines are based upon in-depth research on the learning process.
The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) accredits educational providers to award the IACET Continuing Education Unit (CEU). IACET Accredited Providers undergo a rigorous evaluation of their educational processes according to the ANSI/IACET Standard, including two reviews by IACET’s Commission and a site visit by an IACET Commissioner.
Early care and education professionals may want to earn CEU for four (4) purposes:
- If you hold a National Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential through the Council for Professional Recognition, Washington, DC.
Each Child Development Associate must renew the credential in order to maintain its validity. A CDA Credential is valid for three (3) years from the date of award, after which it may be renewed for five-year (5) periods. The Council for Professional Recognition requires proof of continuing education in order to renew the credential. The proof must be in the form of either 4.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) or a 3-credit hour college course in early childhood education. The additional training/course work must be taken after the original credential is earned, or since the last renewal. - If you hold a Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) through the Florida Department of Children and Families.
The FCCPC program is a training program approved by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) that meets or exceeds the criteria and core competencies established as equivalent to the National Child Development Associate (CDA). As of June 30, 2005, all individuals working in a child care facility with a FCCPC must maintain an active credential, per section 65C-22.003, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), by completing the renewal process. The Department of Children and Families requires proof of continuing education in order to renew the credential. The proof must be in the form of either 4.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) or a 3-credit hour college course in early childhood education. The additional training/course work must be taken after the original credential is earned, or since the last renewal. - If you hold a Florida Director Credential through the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Effective January 1, 2004, every child care facility in Florida is required to have a director who holds a Florida Director Credential. A Director Credential issued prior to January 1, 2004 will have an initial renewal date of January 1, 2009, and every 5 years thereafter. A Director Credential issued after January 1, 2004, will have an initial renewal date after 5 years and every 5 years thereafter. To maintain a valid Director Credential, candidates must provide proof of either 4.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) or a 3-credit hour college credit course every five years in any one of the following curriculum areas:- Overview of Child Care Center Management
- Child Care and Education Organizational Leadership and Management
- Child Care and Education Financial and Legal Issues
- Child Care and Education Programming
- If you hold a Florida School-Age Certification through the Florida Department of Children and Families.
The Florida School-Age Certification Training Program provides school-age child care professionals with a training option that allows them to meet 65C-22.003(6), F.A.C. Completion of the Florida School-Age Certification training program may also be used to meet the staff credential component required for the Director Credential, as outlined in section 65C-22.003(7)(b)5, F.A.C. To maintain a valid School-Age Certification, candidates must provide proof of either 4.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) or a 3-credit hour college credit course every five years in a school-age child care curriculum area.
NOTE: One IACET CEU is equal to ten (10) contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. Therefore, 45 hours of training (4.5 CEU) are required for renewal of all of the credentials listed in the question above.
For more information, contact Jinan As-Siddiq or Denise Bishop at 888-352-4453 (toll-free) or 850-681-7002 in Tallahassee.
- Agencies and non-profits in the early care and education (ECE) field are chronically short-staffed in the area of technology and could benefit greatly from the application of technology to their operations.
- Technology expertise is difficult and expensive to obtain on a consulting basis, since most technology experts have little or no experience or knowledge of the ECE field, jargon, laws, and processes.
- The lack of understanding of the ECE field by general technology consulting firms increases costs in both dollars and staff time.
- The Children’s Forum has been a leader in the application of technological solutions to the operations of ECE- related agencies since the late 90’s. The Forum has invested in a strong information technology infrastructure and the staff to create and support that infrastructure, including enterprise-level:
- Servers/Virtual Environment
- Backup systems, including backup power systems
- Webhosting infrastructure
- Custom database creation and management
- Custom programming and data reporting
- Advanced networking, security, and firewall creation and management
- Intra-system data transfers between partners and automated data import and export processes
- Our IT team’s accomplishments include the development of:
- The Registry and scholarship system for Miami-Dade County
- Custom database-driven web applications for Early Learning Coalitions (ELCs) around the state, such as VPK-provider searches
- Custom websites for ELCs around the state
- An Online Event Registration and Management system for ECE agencies, which includes:
- extensive reporting and event coordination tools, as well as a training verification process to integrate with a Registry
- online conference registration and management system, including payment processes
- Online form submission processes
- Automated data transfer processes between partners in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida
- The proper use of technology can significantly reduce the cost of operations of many ECE agencies, as well as improve their productivity and reach.
- Many tasks currently done on paper or with one-to-one staff contact or phone calls with clients could be done more efficiently through web-based solutions.
- Given the limited funds available to many agencies, efficiencies in the use of technology allow more funds to be directed where they are needed most, to services for children.
Bill Kirchhoff, MBA
Vice President / Chief Information Officer
(850) 487-6300
These days your website is usually the first impression that a potential client gets of your organization’s professionalism, stature, and quality. The Children’s Forum knows and understands how difficult it can be to get professional results on a non-profit budget since, as a non-profit ourselves, we have to do it every day.
Leverage our Resources
With the breadth of contracts that we manage, we have pulled together a design and programming team that can make this often overlooked component of your organization shine. And, since we can cover both graphics and website design, we can design your website to coordinate with your printed materials or other media campaigns.
We Have the Talent
From logo creation, newsletters, annual reports and brochures to website design; the Children’s Forum has the talent and the staff to make your organization look good on a tight budget.
We Know the ECE Field
The Children’s Forum creates and maintains websites for a number of clients, both public and private. Below you can see some examples of the designs and layouts that we have developed on behalf of our clients.
We Have the Tools
We develop sites using CMS platforms such as WordPress and Joomla, as well as industry standard HTML, Javascript, Flash, PHP, PERL, and mySQL/SQL. We also maintain an enterprise-level datacenter that allows us ultimate flexibility in hosting websites and domains, as wells as helping reduce development costs for custom database applications.
For pricing and questions, please contact Bill Kirchhoff at (888)-352-4453
Early Learning Coalitions and child development agencies often have limited time and resources for marketing the valuable services that they provide to families and the early care and education community.
Successfully generating attention for nonprofit organizations requires thinking strategically, shaping the message, and targeting the audience. In addition, community support can be a daunting task with many organizations asking “how can they not care” with the community asking “why should we care?”
- The Children’s Forum knows the needs and audience of early care and education organizations and specializes in creating effective design materials, image development and event management which establishes the identity of our clients and builds support for their cause. Our materials evoke emotion and clearly communicate partner messaging.
- Our award-winning creative team matches partner ideas with the right medium to deliver high-impact products such as logos, brochures, posters, annual reports, postcard mailings to create awareness of programs, cinema advertising, organizational website development, and more.
- The Forum clearly identifies the “why” and develops communication strategies that generate a desired response such as drafting white papers, surveys, news releases, and op-eds.
- The Forum plans conferences, workshops and special events that include all the minute details such as site negotiations, developing an online registration system, creating promotional materials, speaker recruitment, and more. Our cost-effective events management services produce strategic agendas, logistics, and comprehensive onsite reporting.
For more information on how we can generate a lasting impression on your organization’s needs, please contact our Communications Team by email or call us at (850) 681-7002 for more information.
The Forum’s conference and event managers plan and implement a variety of meetings and conferences each year. As a result of our 25-year history of event planning, our seasoned professionals know how to facilitate the magic that happens when people gather to share ideas, plan strategies, and conduct the business of the early care and education field in a comfortable, well-orchestrated atmosphere.
The Forum can help to alleviate the stress of planning for your organization’s events by:
- Having a first-hand understanding and knowledge of the nature and needs of the field.
- Providing a “personal touch” during every step of the planning process.
- Using our information technology expertise to expedite registration online, generate up-to-the-minute reports, and create dynamic, update-able web pages that provide 24/7 access to conference speakers and attendees.
- Minimizing your need to be involved in the day-to-day logistics of hotel contracts, catering details, and speaker engagements.
- Offering graphic design services to ensure that all of your conference materials are professionally prepared and presented.
Contact our Conference Management Team by email or call us at (850) 681-7002 for more information.
Recent events:
- National Workforce Registry Alliance Conference
- Orlando, FL – September 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqD1PKYkRJ0 - Panama City, FL – September 2012
- Orlando, FL – September 2015
- Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Child Care Regulation Statewide Training Meeting
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL – coming in April 2016
- Cocoa Beach, FL – May 2013
- Cocoa Beach, FL – March 2012
- Orlando, FL – May 2010
The Children’s Forum boasts a team of professional public speakers who are able to engage and motivate audiences. Presentation topics include:
- management and leadership
- advocacy
- child development
- early education programming and policy
- professional development
- and more…
Each presentation is tailored to fit organizational needs.
“Phyllis Kalifeh was right on target, upbeat and informative as our afternoon keynote speaker. The audience connected with her. It was obvious that she knew her topic. I would recommend her for any organization looking for a dynamic knowledgeable speaker for their conference.” – Lynne Eldridge, Executive Director, Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, Panama City, FL
