WORKSHOP – Early Childhood Education and Scholarship Opportunities

Why Early Childhood Education Is Workforce Development

When most people think of workforce services, they picture career training, tuition assistance, and small business hiring solutions. While these are essential, there’s a missing piece often overlooked: early care and education.

Early childhood education isn’t just about preparing children for kindergarten—it’s about creating stability for families and fueling economic growth.

• Stability for Families: Parents with reliable child care can pursue job training, employment, and career advancement.
• Economic Growth: Local employers depend on working parents; when child care isn’t available, businesses lose productivity.
• Community Strength: Strong early education builds a skilled, stable future workforce.

This is why the American Job Center (AJC) and SAL Community Services (SAL) are partnering for an Early Childhood Education and Scholarship Opportunities Workshop on Wednesday, September 3, from 1 PM – 3 PM at AJC in Rock Island, IL.

SAL Community Services: Strengthening Families and Communities

SAL Community Services is dedicated to providing child and family support through a variety of impactful programs:

• Early Care & Education – Through Skip-a-Long Childhood Centers and Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships, SAL ensures children are prepared for school success.
• Home-Based Child Care Network – Supporting in-home providers with training, resources, and materials to deliver safe, enriching care.
• Prevention & Stabilization Services – Programs like the Prevention Initiative and Welcoming Center assist families facing challenges, including immigrants and refugees.
• Child Care Resource & Referral Services – Helping families connect with child care that fits their needs, while supporting providers with professional development.
• Community Resources & Referrals – Connecting families to the broader network of services that strengthen lives.

Together, these services create stability for families and opportunity for children—two things that directly fuel the workforce pipeline.

American Job Center: Supporting Job Seekers and Businesses

While SAL builds strong foundations for children and families, the American Job Center provides workforce services that ensure long-term stability for parents, job seekers, and small businesses:

• Tuition Assistance for In-Demand Careers – Helping parents and adults access training for high-demand, high-wage jobs.
• Small Business Hiring Solutions – Connecting employers with trained, qualified workers.
• No-Cost Career Services – Resume writing, interview preparation, job search coaching, and workshops.
• Employer Partnerships – Offering hiring support, workforce programs, and connections to tax credits.

For families, this means a holistic path to stability—child care services from SAL and career development support from AJC. For employers, it means a stronger, more reliable workforce.

Why This Workshop Matters

At this workshop, participants will discover:

• Pathways to a rewarding career in early childhood education.
• Available scholarships and tuition assistance for early education programs
• How SAL programs provide child care, stability, and resources that benefit families and the local workforce.

This event is not only for parents or educators—it’s also for small business owners who want to understand how child care access directly impacts hiring, retention, and productivity.

Why Small Businesses Should Care

For small businesses in the Quad Cities, early childhood education isn’t just a social service—it’s a business solution.

• Employee Retention: Parents without child care miss work or leave jobs, increasing turnover costs.
• Talent Development: Today’s children are tomorrow’s workforce. Investment now means a stronger talent pool later.
• Community Leadership: Businesses that support child care solutions stand out as family-friendly, community-minded employers.

By partnering with SAL and the AJC, small businesses can play a role in shaping a stronger local economy.

Join Us

Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Time: 1 PM – 3 PM
Location: American Job Center, 500 42nd Street, Suite 6, Rock Island, IL 61201
Calendar: https://theamericanjobcenter.org/calendar.php

This workshop is your chance to connect with SAL Community Services, and learn about scholarship opportunities in early childhood education. 

Whether you are a parent, an educator, a job seeker, or a small business owner, this event is designed with you in mind.

For More Information Contact:

Tracy Bates – Higher Education Workforce Development Navigator
tbates@salcommunityservices.org
(309) 205-3070