Sanford Health

Child Development Associate (CDA)

What is CDA?

A Child Development Associate (CDA) is an individual who has successfully completed a CDA assessment and has been awarded the CDA credential.

The Child Development Enrichment Program at Sanford Children’s CHILD Services is an approved training site for those who are pursuing their CDA.

The CDA credential is a nationally recognized early childhood professional credential awarded by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition based in Washington DC.

Childcare providers who earn the CDA credential have attended 120 hours of training and have demonstrated their ability to nurture young children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth.

CHILD Services offers classes to provide child care providers the 120 hours of training needed to earn their CDA credential.
 

The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition

The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition is the home of the CDA program.

Click here for the CDA Council website
 

Starting CDA

CDA classes are held every Monday night from 6:30-9:00pm, January through May. Registration forms along with $95 registration fee can be sent to CHILD Services at 1115 W. 41st Sioux Falls, SD 57105.

Click here for the CDA Registration form

You can request a CDA information packet by contacting our office at 333-0698 or email at childsrv@sanfordhealth.org. Applicants may choose to start classes in January or September.

To access CHILD services contact us at (605) 333-0698 or email us at childsrv@sanfordhealth.org

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CDA Eligibility Requirements

Personal

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Be able to speak, read, and write well enough to fulfill the responsibilities of a CDA Candidate
  • Sign a statement of ethical conduct

Experience (Within last 5 years)

  • Have 480 hours of experience working with children

Setting

(Approved setting where candidate can be observed working with children.)

  • Center-based preschool (3 to 5 year olds)
  • Center-based infant/toddler (birth to age 3)
  • Family day care (birth through age 5)
  • Home visitor

Education (Completed within 5 years)

Have 120 hours of CDA approved training in the following subject areas:

  1. Planning a safe, healthy learning environment (safety, first aid, health, nutrition, space planning, materials and equipment, play)
  2. Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development (large and small muscle, language, discovery, art, music)
  3. Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development (self-esteem, independence, self-control, socialization)
  4. Strategies to establish productive relationships with families (parent involvement, home visits, conferences, referrals)
  5. Strategies to manage an effective program operation (planning, record keeping, reporting)
  6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism (advocacy, ethical practices, work force issues, professional associations)
  7. Observing and recording children’s behavior (tools and strategies for objective information collection
  8. Principles of child growth and development (developmental milestones from birth through age 5, cultural influences on development)

7/31/2008

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