Professional Development in States
Professionals working with young children and families—whether in child care, home visiting programs, health clinics, or other settings—need the skills to effectively support children’s development and learning.
Although all states offer training opportunities to infant–toddler professionals, leading states are building a coordinated, cross-sector professional development system that leverages state resources to build the capacity of the infant–toddler workforce. An integrated professional development system incorporates personnel preparation and training around evidence-based core competencies, articulates into college degrees, includes alternative pathways to credentials, and links higher levels of training to increased compensation.
Featured Resources
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New licensing regulations in Washington D.C. include minimum education requirements for assistant teachers, teachers, and directors in early care and education settings.
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Pennsylvania Strengthens Higher Education Offerings for Early Childhood Professionals
Using Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge funds, Pennsylvania awarded one-year mini-grants to align over 300 early childhood education courses.
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Ohio and Colorado Increase Investment in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
In an effort to promote healthy social and emotional development and school readiness among young children, Ohio and Colorado recently increased funding for early childhood mental health consultation…
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Minnesota Embeds Reflective Practice in Home Visiting
Minnesota is embedding reflective practice at every level within the home visiting system in an effort to improve outcomes for families and home visiting professionals.
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Illinois Develops Online Portal to Support Family Child Care Professionals
Town Square connects FCC professionals to more than 75 resources to help them provide high quality care and encourages peer-to-peer sharing through a member-only area. Resources are provided in a var…
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Kansas Develops Cultural Awareness Toolkit
A new multimedia toolkit is helping home visitors and other early childhood professionals engage diverse populations and improve practice in cross-cultural settings.
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North Carolina Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
North Carolina has a one-year extension to its 2012 Race To The Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.
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North Carolina Medicaid Requires Developmental Screening in Health Settings
North Carolina leads the nation in services to children receiving Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT).
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North Carolina Develops Nationally Recognized Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate Credential
North Carolina collaborated with the Council for Professional Recognition (the Council) to develop the first state Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (I/T CDA) credential that is nationally r…
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The standards and the endorsement process proved important to many outside of Michigan. By 2016, 23 state infant mental health associations, two large children’s agencies, and two international infan…
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Kansas Advances Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Policy, Practice, and Workforce Development
Kansas was one of ten states that participated in a three-year infant and early childhood mental health (I-ECMH) learning community.
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Iowa's National Academy Aims to Professionalize the Field of Family Support Services
The Iowa Department of Public Health is leading a significant cooperative effort to professionalize the workforce for home visitors and others providing family support services through the developmen…
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For more than six years, Idaho Secure Beginnings worked to increase awareness of early childhood and infant mental health issues and build a training infrastructure for professionals throughout the s…
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IdahoSTARS (State Training and Registry System)
The IdahoSTARS Project is a voluntary program that provides training in child development, education, health, and safety and assessment of child care facilities based on national quality standards.
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Florida's Birth to Five Learning and Developmental Standards
The Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards are a comprehensive set of early learning guidelines for children birth to five, formally adopted by the State Board of Education in 2011.
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Colorado's Office of Professional Development
Learn how Colorado established the Office of Professional Development in 2006 to improve the quality of services and supports for young children in the state by enhancing skills and knowledge of the …
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Colorado Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
Learn how Colorado is implementing the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.
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Colorado Early Intervention Provider Database
Learn about Early Intervention (EI) Colorado, Colorado's Infant and Toddler Initiative.
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California Approves $190 Million to Support Early Childhood System-Building Initiative
Here's how California is strengthening family engagement, investing in the early childhood workforce, and supporting local Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS).
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Learn how this program supports the education and preparation of an effective, well-compensated, and diverse early learning workforce.
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The Association for Supportive Child Care developed the Arizona Kith & Kin Project in 1999 to strengthen the quality of friends and family ("kith and kin") child care providers.
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Alaska System of Early Education and Development (SEED)
Alaska System for Early Education Development (Alaska SEED) is a system of professional development for Alaska's field of Early Care and Education.
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CHILDSPAN (RI's Child Development and Education Training System)
CHILDSPAN offers high-quality training and consultation to care and education providers throughout the Rhode Island.
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Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA)
SFTA's mission is to support groups in Wisconsin that promote quality early care, resources and education to enrich the lives of children and strengthen families.
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West Virginia Builds Capacity to Promote Infant Mental Health
West Virginia Early Childhood Advisory Council has been working to build a high quality, coordinated system of services to support early childhood development, including efforts align home visiting …
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Child Care Health Consultation
Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs) work out of local health departments, CCR&R agencies or Partnerships for Children, and Head Starts, or they work independently.
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Infant and Toddler Incentive Program
The purpose of the Infant/Toddler Incentive Program is to increase the number of infant/toddler child care spaces available to low-income families.
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Cross-Sector Core Competencies for the Prenatal Through Age Five Field
Professional Development resource information on state policies and initiatives that impact infants, toddlers and their families
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West Virginia Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist
The Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) is a two-year (four-semester) training program developed in West Virginia for staff in child care centers, Head Start, preschool, school-age…
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Wisconsin Takes Steps to Address Young Children's Mental Health
Wisconsin carried out a proactive and comprehensive set of strategies that address multiple barriers and build an I-ECMH system.
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Wisconsin Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
In 2012, Wisconsin reapplied for and was awarded the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) sy…
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Wisconsin Adopts Michigan Infant Mental Health Competencies and Endorsement
In June 2009, the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) took an important step in helping the states early childhood workforce build core knowledge about the social-emotional health o…
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Washington Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
In December 2011, Washington was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) sy…
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Vermont Develops Early Childhood Mental Health Competencies
A work group in Vermont developed Infant Toddler and Early Childhood Mental Health (ITECMH) competencies, Vermonts Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Competencies, over a 4-year period, present…
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Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network
With Child Development Resources leadership, a state level leadership council guides the work of partners and collaborators to implement a statewide, comprehensive Infant & Toddler Specialist Network.
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Family Child Care Provider Start-Up Grants in Utah
The Utah Office of Child Care offers three kinds of grants to family child care or family group child care providers through the Office of Child Care.
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Rhode Island Aims to Support Home Visiting Professionals
With leadership provided by the Rhode Island Department of Health and funding from the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, home visitors across disciplines and progra…
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Pennsylvania Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
In December, 2013, Pennsylvania became one of the six newest states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.
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Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality
The Pennsylvania Keys to Quality consists of a statewide PA Key and five Regional Keys.
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Oregon Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
In 2012, Oregon reapplied for and was awarded the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) syste…
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Oregon Registry Infant Toddler Credential
In 2005, the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education (OCCD) worked with state partners and other professionals to develop three credentials for the field of childhood ca…
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Oklahoma Early Care and Education Resources for Providers
The Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral Association offers various kinds of free support to providers caring for infants and toddlers.
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New York's Infant Toddler Care & Education Credential
The New York State Infant Toddler Child Care Credential is designed to formally recognize those practitioners who display a specialized knowledge of infant and toddler development, the partnership of…
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New York's Educational Incentive Program
The Educational Incentive Program (EIP) is a scholarship program which helps providers pay for training and educational activities with the intent to build provider knowledge, skills and competencies…
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New York State Infant Toddler Technical Assistance Resource Network
Established in 2002 with funding from the New York State Office of Children and Families Services (NYSOCFS), seven Regional Infant Toddler Technical Assistance Centers across New York State, located …
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New York was one of ten states that participated in a three-year infant and early childhood mental health (I-ECMH) learning community facilitated by the National Center on Children in Poverty, ZERO T…
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With a mandate from the New Mexico Office of Child Development (OCD) in 1996, New Mexico created a statewide system of professional development for the workforce across various sectors working with c…
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New Mexico Aims to Support Home Visiting Professionals
The New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD)--the state grantee of the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program--is committed to supporting home visiting …
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New Jersey Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
In December, 2013, New Jersey became one of the six newest states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.
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Nebraska's Early Learning Connection
Nebraska's Early Learning Connection (ELC) is an integrated system of early childhood professional development.
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Nebraska's Birth to 5 Social-Emotional Curriculum
The goal of the Social-Emotional & Behavioral Development, Ages Birth to Five curriculum is to promote provider screening for these issues with the consistent utilization of a standardized, validated…
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Nebraska Online Home Visiting Training Modules
In 2012, Nebraska released a Home Visiting Core Practices and Principles Online Training program, which provides information and resources that all home visitors can use.
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Growing Futures is a central clearinghouse of information and resources for anyone who works with or on behalf of North Dakota's children.
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Montana's Infant / Toddler and Preschool Professional Development Incentive Award (PDIA)
Learn more about Montana's Infant/Toddler and Preschool Professional Development Incentive Awards (PDIA).
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Best Beginnings Certified Infant Toddler Caregiver Stipend Program
The Best Beginnings Certified Infant Toddler Caregiver Stipend program seeks to help early childhood programs retain certified infant toddler caregivers.
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Missouri was the first state to develop and implement quality accreditation criteria for programs providing care and education for children.
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R.E.E.T.A.I.N (Retaining Early Educators Through Attaining Incentives Now) is a workforce retention program that seeks to reduce the turnover rates among child care providers who work with young chil…
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Minnesota has long been committed to parent-child attachment, infant mental health, and thoughtful research to enhance home visiting practice.
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Michigan Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
In December, 2013, Michigan became one of the six newest states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.
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Maine's Infant/Toddler Credential System
Maine Roads to Quality, in partnership with Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Child and Family Services, has worked with the ZERO TO THREE Learning Community to develop …
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Maryland Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
In December 2011, Maryland was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) syst…
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Massachusetts Takes on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
The Massachusetts Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant 2014 Annual Performance Report outlined progress in the following areas:
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Kansas' Early Childhood Associate Apprenticeship Program
The Kansas Early Childhood Associate Apprenticeship Program (ECAAP) is an innovative, employer-based certification program that serves individuals working in child care centers, preschools or for a g…
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Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC)
Professional Development resource information on state policies and initiatives that impact infants, toddlers and their families
