Child Care and Early Childhood Development Unit
Infant/Toddler Specialist Initiative

May 2008

Purpose: To increase the number of quality infant/toddler slots through additional training, technical assistance and consultation made available to regulated child care providers.

Background: The Kansas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (KACCRRA) is responsible for the placement of infant/toddler specialists in each of the 7 resource and referral (R&R) agencies serving all 105 counties in Kansas. This project began in 1999. These specialists provide training, technical assistance, and consulting to regulated child care providers with a focus on those serving infants and toddlers.

The training offered through the specialists is specific to issues concerning infants and toddlers, including child development, best practices in group care settings, and health and safety issues. The infant/toddler specialists assist in coordinating existing infant/toddler training resources in each community. Additional infant/toddler resources are available in each R&R’s Resource Library, including resource/activity kits, toys, children’s books, and a variety of resources for adult caregivers.

Beginning in July, 2004 a project called EXCEL (Excellent Care for Early Learning) was initiated. Each Infant/Toddler Specialist enrolls a minimum of five child care professionals to receive the enhanced technical assistance service. Specialists initiate the relationship with caregivers by collecting background data and observations using either the Family Day Care Rating Scale or the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale. Using this data, a customized Technical Assistance Plan is developed for each EXCEL participant that includes program improvement goals and objectives.

Group meetings are organized by each specialist to encourage networking and informal support of EXCEL participants. Additional funding, some through the contract and some through local sources, was secured to help provide the necessary equipment and supplies for participants. In 2006 a Healthy Kansas Kids component was added for EXCEL participants to help address nutrition and physical activity.

Federal Funding Amount: $946,039 (included as part of the $2.2M KACCRRA contract with SRS). This supports a Project Director and 20 Infant/Toddler Specialists.
July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009

Funding Source: Child Care and Development Fund

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Page Updated: May 23, 2008