2023: A Year-End Review of Building Bright Futures

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With 2023 in the rearview mirror, we reflect on the first year of the Building Bright Futures initiative. It has been quite a journey! In just one year, our pilot initiative has grown to support 136 organizations in 42 counties, and close to 200 pre-apprentices and apprentices, with those numbers growing each week. We had the privilege of attending an apprenticeship signing at Durham Tech at the end of 2023, which highlighted the impact Building Bright Futures is having in NC. Nearly 40 apprentices signed on to the Durham CCSA-sponsored agreement that evening, making it the largest cohort of ECE apprentices in the state so far. BBF organizations are eager to celebrate this model of recruiting and retaining high-quality talent to emphasize the value it offers their children, families, and staff. 

Throughout 2023, BBF met with many community colleges, child care centers, and Partnerships and Smart Start organizations to share the benefits of ECE apprenticeship and how BBF supports them. Some of these meetings have taken us on the road to present to groups all over the state—from the mountains to the shore—who are interested in learning about the benefits apprenticship can have on their business. 

As a result, BBF has made great strides in piloting ECE pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs as a strategy to elevate this important workforce. The 50% wage match reimbursement stipend and other wraparound services BBF provides have proven to be a huge benefit for child care centers that employ apprentices. Charmaine Winston, Program Administrator of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center in Raleigh, states, "A Safe Place's collaboration with Building Bright Futures has been instrumental in providing us with access to funding that has enabled us to offer higher wages to our staff, provide them with necessary training and resources, and facilitate their pursuit of higher education by removing some of the barriers that Early Childhood educators often face, such as transportation, childcare, and other expenses. We are extremely grateful to have this program to support and assist us in creating excellent child care." 

Building Bright Futures also strives to bolster this vital profession through enrichment opportunities that allow participants to enhance their learning outside of the classroom. In addition to virtual presentations and webinars, BBF hosted two in-person events for our apprentices, mentors, and child care center directors. The Frank Porter Graham Institute event gave attendees a look into current research being conducted in the realm of early childhood, and how that research can transform the lives of children through policy and best practices. Our fall event with The Hunt Institute and DCDEE in Raleigh emphasized the role each organization has in early child care and education, along with the importance of advocacy and career awareness. These opportunities for our participants to learn, connect, and network is proving to be an invaluable component of our initiative. See the Events page for what we have coming up in 2024!

One of the most important parts of the apprenticeship support system is the critical role of mentorship. We partnered with the Child Care Services Association (CCSA) in October 2023 to launch a Mentoring Apprentices and Pre-Apprentices (M.A.P.P.) program for BBF mentors. Through bi-monthly webinars across a host of relevant topics, our mentors receive additional support for the fundamental work that goes with mentorship in ECE. 

During our first year, BBF has seen the dedication our state’s early childhood educators put into their profession every day. They are some of the most passionate and hardworking people in NC. These educators love what they do, and it is shown within the hallways, classrooms, and on the faces of the children. We thank our participants and partners across the state who see the value and necessity of early childhood education, and how these educators benefit children, families, the community, and the local economy. Early childhood education is a win-win for all and as such, we must continue working together to invest in our workforce and our future!