Accountability & Evaluation; Child Care; Child Care Resource & Referral; Professional Development; Professional Development; Quality Improvement
Status:
Archived
Year Started:
Administered By:
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
Description:
West Virginia provides an Infant and Toddler training program called 'One Step at a Time,' developed by a consultant from Appalachian Educational Laboratories. The training incorporates elements of West Ed’s Program for Infant and Toddler Caregivers, Step by Step Curriculum and Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers, as well as material from the 'I am Your Child Campaign' and Bank Street College.
The One Step at a Time training is 45 class hours, and providers are asked to complete a workbook on their own time. The training course is offered by approved trainers employed by the state’s 6 child care resource and referral agencies. Training is available statewide to all child care providers who receive a $400 bonus and a copy of the Step by Step Infant and Toddler Activities upon completion of the course.
As part of their involvement with Phase One of the National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative, West Virginia focused on redesigning the training program. Areas for improvement were identified by surveying trainers, participants, and administrators.
Immediate needs were identified through the program analysis to restructure the bonus payment, include administrators and provide follow-up opportunities.
The $400 bonus payment was restructured effective July 2004 to provide $200.00 per participant to centers to support costs of attending the class. Bonuses of $200.00 are paid to participants upon completion of the coursework and six months of continued care of infants and toddlers (this emphasizes the importance of continuity of care for West Virginia’s infants and toddlers).
The redesigned program includes meetings between Training Specialists and center administrators to review the course content and the expectations (such as insuring that the participant is able to implement course content and works with infants and toddlers at least 20 hours per week.) Additionally, training specialists provide follow-up visits to participants to support implementation of course content.
West Virginia also worked with a consultant to implement the following addtions to the training program as part of the redesign efforts:
• Revised and updated course content/materials that include four main modules: The Caregiver; The Family; The Child; and Quality Environments. • Trainer and participant manuals. • On-site technical assistance process/format implemented during and after the coursework. • Train the trainer modules and initial training. • Administrator modules to involve administrators in supporting participants. • Performance evaluation forms and measures to provide ongoing evaluation and continuous quality improvement. • Recommendations for incentives.
The redesigned program was piloted in the fall and winter of 2005.
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources initially provided grant funding to purchase the following items for the CCR&R agencies implementing the training: (1) infant and toddler training materials (2) infant CPR mannequins for each of the 12 CCR&R training staff; and (3) life-like infant dolls that respond (cry) if the caregiver does not provide needed care on time. A group of six CCR&R trainers, and the ACDS program coordinator, also received training in two of the four units of the Program for Infant and Toddler Caregivers.
During 2004, funds were provided the CCR&Rs to purchase appropriate learning materials for distribution to program participants that support implementation of quality learning materials and environments.
Over 479 providers have participated in the infant and toddler program. The training became even more important in July 2003, when the State implemented revised licensing standards requiring all center staff who work with infants and toddlers to have 40 hours of training related to caring for infants and toddlers.
Update July 2009: This training has been replaced by the West Virginia Infant/Toddler Professional Development Program (WVIT PDP)
