INCENTIVE$ rewards teachers, directors and family child care providers working with children ages birth to five with financial payments based on their level of education and sustained employment. INCENTIVE$ works alongside other quality initiatives in participating counties to help educate, retain, and provide additional supports for the early childhood workforce.
Interested providers or educators will need a personal portal account to access the online application. Applications must include:
- Proof of employment
- Formal education documents (ex. unofficial transcripts)
- Hourly wages (ex. paystub)
- Family child care providers must complete a Monthly Income Worksheet as proof of wages
Applicants must create portal account using their personal email address. Please follow steps below:
- Visit https://login.thechildrensforum.com/ and click on the Create Account button
- Enter details as requested on each page (Name, DOB, Demographics, Address, etc.)
- Check your personal email account for a message from registryportal@thechildrensforum.com
- NOTE: Please allow up to 15 minutes to receive this email and check your SPAM folder
- Open the email and click the link. You may also copy/paste this link into your browser
- This link will take you to set your Portal Account password
- Enter your password into both boxes, then click the Reset Password button
- Login with your new password to see your Portal Account Dashboard!
The INCENTIVE$ Scale award amounts range from $450 to $5,000 annually for full-time employees. These amounts are based upon the participant’s level of education and reflects the schedule worked during a six-month commitment period (i.e., award payments for part-time employees are prorated). Click here to see the full INCENTIVE$ Scale
INCENTIVE$ checks are generally processed and mailed 45 – 60 days after the employment confirmation is completed for the participant’s six-month commitment period. If the participant is out for an extended period during that time, they must make it up before they are eligible to receive an INCENTIVE$ check. This includes summer breaks or parental/medical leave.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Checks may be delayed if the participant has moved and did not submit an address update. Please be sure to check your address in your Children’s Forum Personal Portal Account.
Participants can increase their level on the INCENTIVE$ Scale by completing additional formal education. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program can help with this! T.E.A.C.H. provides scholarships and additional supports for early educators to earn credentials, college credits, and degrees in the field. Visit the T.E.A.C.H. website to learn more.
INCENTIVE$ would not be possible without our funders.
Thank you for supporting your local early learning community!
