The Early Care and Education Workforce of Ventura County. Report

Ventura County is home to approximately 55,000 children under age six, many of whom enroll in early care and education (ECE) programs (KidsData, 2023). The ECE workforce provides vital learning and growth for these children, complex work that demands energy and expertise. Building on the California Early Care and Education Workforce Study conducted by the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE), this report offers a snapshot of the licensed ECE workforce in Ventura County. In Chapter 1, the authors provide a profile of its core members: family child care (FCC) providers and center-based educators (directors, teachers, and assistants). In Chapter 2, the authors describe the state of educator well-being; and in Chapter 3, the authors explore current headwinds affecting the field. [This report was funded by the Ventura County Office of Education and the Local Planning Council of Ventura County.]