Workforce Solutions Through Intergenerational Support

The Early Childhood Service Corps (ECSC) is an innovative and intergenerational response to the critical workforce need in the field of early childhood (EC) and to the unprecedented departure of older Americans from the workforce. ECSC provides training, education, and support for adults 50+ to become early childhood professionals who are qualified to work as classroom and substitute teachers, part-time floaters, and assistant teachers in licensed early childhood education (ECE) facilities. ECSC believes that a very small investment in their nonprofit yields immeasurable benefits for Colorado’s economy, children, families, and older adults living in our communities.

To address the needs of the EC workforce, ECSC has established a focus area based on its proven older-adult-engagement model. Emerging research and evidence support the benefits of an intergenerational approach. The factors that have been found to contribute to EC include:

• Availability of older adults as a growing source of human capital
• Positive outcomes resulting from their desire for purpose and connection
• Attributes of older adults such as work-life experiences and social-emotional skills and abilities

For the training ECSC provides, there are two tracks for interested adults to pursue: the Volunteer Business Advisor (VBA) or Classroom track. Both provide free, contactless training that enables adults 50+ to gain the skills needed to be successful in the EC field.

In a truly win-win situation for all involved, older adult participants report lower levels of loneliness, reduced agitation, and improved health, among other findings. Intergenerational interactions are a powerful and positive part of the human experience. ECSC’s proven older-adult-engagement model provides this population with opportunities to connect with young children and their families usefully and productively in ways that enables the older adult to gain a greater sense of meaning and purpose—and potentially a pathway to employment in the EC field.

Buell and Its Impact

As part of the Foundation’s ongoing partnership with ECSC, Lisa Armao, Executive Director, explained, “The Buell Foundation has been instrumental in helping us scale our intergenerational program that supports the recruitment, retention, and quality of Colorado’s early childhood caregivers and educators in licensed sites across Colorado. Thanks to Buell’s support, we have been able to expand our program to new locations, regions, and populations.”

“ECSC is currently a statewide initiative, with the majority of our Sites and Corp members being in the Denver metro area,” Armao said. “Our strategic plan outlines expansion into rural and mountain, economically challenged, and culturally diverse communities. None of this would be possible without the financial support and connections we have received from the Buell Foundation. We have increased both our partner site numbers and our membership of Encore Substitutes across the state!”

“We have been able to forge and deepen relationships with other workforce grantees, which has been wonderful. The information sessions and webinars Buell is providing  have been very helpful and allowed more time for networking and connection between organizations all doing the same but different work,” Armao added. “Jason Callegari is incredibly supportive and has even attended some of our events. He sends along valuable support materials and makes personal connections to community foundations and other resources for us. He has been a great thought partner, something we as a small nonprofit greatly appreciate. It has been fantastic.”