Currently administered by Child Care & Nutrition, Inc., CBTA a special training program for licensed family child care providers. Providers enroll in the Competency Based Training and Assessment Program to receive a specialized credential as a Child Care Professional.

The program has been developed by the University of Minnesota and, upon completion, providers earn up to 12 college credits from Minnesota West, Worthington Campus, Worthington, Minnesota. The program is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Otto Bremer Foundation.

Under the training program, providers meet monthly with small group trainers to complete a course of study. An in-home observation and final assessment complete the project.

Training centers around ten major "competencies" which providers study in depth. The areas of competency are:

• Health and Safety. - Health policies, head lice, CPR, immunizations, etc. are covered. If a child breaks a tooth in your care, will you know what to do? When do you contact the parents?
• Nutrition. - A basic concern in any child care environment.
• Home Environment. - Nooks and crannies in your home are great areas of use for kids and toys. Places you may have overlooked in the past.
• Child Development. - We all understand that children act differently at various ages in their lives. But do we really know why?
• Understanding Learning Experiences. - Children don't need a structured environment to learn. In fact, a family child care setting provides better problem-solving experiences for small children than do child care centers.
• Self Concept. - Building children's self-esteem and the provider's self-esteem. Providers with high self-esteem tend to be great providers, automatically instilling that in your children in their care.
• Behavior Guidance. - Setting rules for living in society is the basic concept.
• Communication Skills. - Listening, speaking, and other aspects of communication skills. Tips for parent-provider communication are included.
• Professional and Business Management. - How do you keep a handle on all that paperwork and still run a smooth child care operation? We give basic tips to help.
• Child Abuse and Neglect. - Sadly, one of the important problems of which every child care provider must be aware.

Upon completion of the program, providers enjoy the benefits of a certificate which offers public recognition and personal achievement. They also receive up to 12 transferable college credits, a record of their certification at the Child Care Resource and Referral Center, easier relicensing, and opportunities to expand leadership and training opportunities in their community.