1. Introduction: Wendy Davis-Bragg I was the owner of a private for-profit child development center for fifteen years. When thinking about topics for the paper, I began to research the industry wide problem of high employee turnover rates. This training module was developed to fill a need I found for effective, relevant strategies to improve employee retention by non-monetary means. This presentation presents the first unit of the module.

2. Background: The most challenging problem faced by child care center owners nationwide is an employee turnover rate of 40% per year. The most common cause of turnover is low wages. The private for profit child care industry faces challenges regarding shortages of revenues leaving little money to pay living wages. Research has shown that high turnover rates negatively affect the quality of a program.

3. Analysis: Child care center owners need training that is flexible and conducive to their busy workday. Desk time is rare during the day so a portable workbook would encourage learning on the go. Many centers do not have computers on site. There is a lack of training in the area of non-monetary strategies for employee retention. Business owners are motivated to learn new strategies to stay competitive.

4. About the Training Module: A self-directed learning module in the form of a work book, portable and designed to be easily learned in small bits. Designed for owners and directors of private-for profit child development centers. Teaches effective non-monetary strategies for retaining valuable and talented employees. Includes tests and review questions to reinforce learning as well as follow up surveys to measure results.

5. About the Learner: Directors, owners, or managers of private for profit child development centers. Learners will have knowledge of basic business operations and management Learners will meet minimum educational requirements as set by the State of South Carolina Learners will be capable of making management decisions impacting their organization

6. Improve employee retention today:Strategies to transform your workforce Self directed training for business owners

7. Module Outline: Unit One: Start at the Top: It’s all about leadership Objective: to teach owners about their impact on the organization Unit Two: How does your business flow? Objective: to teach effective organizational design Unit Three: Non-monetary motivators Objective: to guide owners in establishing rewards and recognitions Unit Four: Think like your employees and teach them to think like you Objective: to teach owners to build employee centered workplaces Unit Five: Prioritizing communication Objective: to teach owners to open lines of communication

8. Unit One: It’s All About You! Holistic Thinking It is important to begin with thinking holistically. Your organization is one large entity, not just a sum of its parts. In other words, it is more than an infant care program, a preschool program, and an afterschool program. It is more than employees, parents, and children. Your organization is a living, breathing entity, capable of influence and change and growth and of creating good outcomes for your community. It is through holistic thinking like this that you can begin to develop a VISION for your organization.

9. Unit One Developing a vision for your organization Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 It is important to develop a Vision for your center. No one can believe in your vision if you don’t have one. No one will believe in your vision if you don’t believe in it yourself. It has been said that it doesn’t matter how you get there if you don’t know where you are going. The same is true for Child Care organizations. Do you know what you want your organization to accomplish? What big picture goals do you want to achieve?

10. Unit One Developing a vision statement vi·sion [vizh-uh 2. the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur. Believe in and promote the vision yourself and others will follow. Having a mutual vision makes your employees feel like they belong to something worthwhile and increases loyalty to the organization, and it doesn’t cost a thing!

11. Unit One Modeling Professionalism Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing. Albert Schweitzer What your professional image says about you What your professional image says about your work Using professionalism to ignite pride in your workforce

12. Unit one A leader worth following The effect of ethical leadership on motivation Modeling ethical behavior Servant leadership "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care." ~ John C. Maxwell

13. Conclusion The remainder of the module has been excluded for the sake of time and space. I learned several things during this project. Self directed learning modules are incredibly complicated and the material must be covered thoroughly. Self directed modules are highly applicable to today’s entrepreneur. This project was too broad in its scope and the focus had to be narrowed considerably.