By Katie Caples
York, PA – Community Connections for Children (CCC), the Early Learning Resource Center for Regions 9 and 10, is proud to announce the launch of its newly approved Registered Level 1 Child Development Associate (CDA) Apprenticeship Program—a first-of-its-kind workforce pathway in the region designed to strengthen and stabilize Pennsylvania’s early childhood education workforce.
The Registered Apprenticeship, approved by the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Council, provides early childhood educators with a structured, competency-based pathway to earn their CDA while receiving paid, on-the-job training, expert mentorship, and high-quality classroom instruction.
“This apprenticeship represents a major step forward for our early childhood workforce,” said Christy Renjilian, Executive Director of Community Connections for Children. “By combining education, coaching, and real-world practice, we are helping programs build strong, skilled educators—and giving workers access to a career path with long-term growth.”
Building on the success of three years of the ECHO (Every Child Has Opportunities) Teacher Aide Program, administered by CCC, the program features:
- 144 hours of Related Technical Instruction aligned with Pennsylvania’s Level 1 Child Development Specialist competencies
- Structured coaching and mentorship from qualified early childhood professionals
- Paid on-the-job training within local early learning programs
- A cohort model that supports peer learning, collaboration, and completion
- Clear advancement pathways, including a bridge to the Level 2 Early Childhood Educator apprenticeship and stackable credentials
“Early childhood educators are the workforce behind the workforce,” said Katie Caples, ECHO Director. “This apprenticeship helps address persistent staffing shortages by creating a scalable, high-quality pipeline of educators who are trained, supported, and prepared for long-term success.”
Pennsylvania continues to face significant challenges due to early childhood staffing shortages, which affect parents, employers, and the broader workforce. This new apprenticeship program provides a sustainable, workforce-driven solution that meets the needs of both early learning programs and the families they serve.
Enrollment for the first cohort will open soon. For more information about the Registered Level 1 Child Development Associate Apprenticeship Program, or to express interest in joining a future cohort, please contact Kim Hengst, Workforce Development Coordinator, at khengst@cccforpa.org.
About Community Connections for Children
Community Connections for Children (CCC) serves as the Early Learning Resource Center for Regions 9 & 10, while supporting Region 8, and is committed to helping children, families, and early childhood education programs be successful. CCC supports low-income working families in paying for child care and provides resources, training, and on-site technical assistance to early childhood education providers. They serve approximately 24,000 children, families, and early childhood education programs a year in Adams, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York counties.
About Every Child Has Opportunities
Every Child Has Opportunities (ECHO) is an early childhood education initiative in York County, Pennsylvania, administered by Community Connections for Children and York County Economic Alliance. It was created in 2024 with philanthropic support from J. William Warehime Foundation, Powder Mill Foundation, WellSpan Health, Kinsley Foundation, United Way of York County, and York County Community Foundation.
For more information about ECHO, visit www.echoyork.org or contact Katie Caples at kcaples@cccforpa.org or 717-714-8561.
