The Imagine Institute and Whatcom County Health and Community Services are working together to support working families by increasing access to licensed child care, right in your community. Know someone in Whatcom County who would like to join Imagine U this year and start their own family home child care business? This program takes only 10 months and provides compensation for hands-on learning!
About Imagine U
Imagine U is a relationship-based mentorship program designed to increase the number of licensed family child care providers who can care for children in Washington State. Imagine U pairs experienced and talented licensed child care providers with those interested in becoming licensed, and offers both the mentor and intern supports to help them grow professionally. This peer-to-peer model honors the knowledge and skill that exists in the field and helps ensure that new providers are able to benefit from their mentor’s expertise.
We understand that, while working in early childhood education can be incredibly rewarding, the process can seem daunting. Imagine U exists to bridge the gap between your dream starting a child care business and the reality a career as a child care provider. Imagine U interns are matched with working licensed child care professionals to embark on the journey of becoming licensed.
Become a State-Approved Mentor
Are you already a licensed provider in Whatcom County? Are you interested in assisting ambitious individuals in their journey to become a fully licensed child care provider? Imagine U is in search of mentors in Whatcom County to join our upcoming cohort. Mentors and interns are matched to increase connections in early childhood education to support new and upcoming providers throughout the process of becoming licensed.
ELIGIBILITY
To become a state-approved mentor, you must…
- Be an active licensed family child care provider
- Care for a subsidized child and be eligible to be part of the SEIU 925 bargaining unit.
- Maintain a license in good standing
- Meet the minimum education requirement
- Find or be willing to be paired with an intern or interns