Professional Competency

What This Looks Like

• Being an informed advocate for children, families, and the workforce

• Staff understand their professional roles and the roles of other professions that serve children and families
• Staff know that equity begins in early childhood, and they work toward equity in their interactions, curricula, and programming
• Staff are aware of issues affecting the profession (compensation, policies) and work to improve conditions for themselves and others

• Knowing and using ethical guidelines for the profession

• Staff know and follow relevant laws for child health and safety
• Staff uphold high standards of confidentiality
• Staff respect families and coworkers

• Communicating professionally to support relationships with children, youth, coworkers, and families

• Staff speak and write respectfully, sensitively, and effectively
• Staff use a variety of communication strategies to build relationships, including technology, languages other than English, and assistive devices

• Learning continuously and collaboratively

• Staff receive and act on feedback
• Staff ask for help when they need it
• Staff approach their work with curiosity and creativity
• Staff collaborate with members of the team and families

• Developing and sustaining a habit of reflection and intentional practice

• Staff make intentional professional decisions
• Staff use feedback and multiple sources of information to improve their practice
• Staff reflect on their own social and cultural contexts and biases and how these impact children and families
• Staff take care of their mental health and well-being