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Child Care State Capacity Building Center Infant/Toddler Specialist Network

What Is the Infant/Toddler Specialist Network?

One of three State Capacity Building Center (SCBC) networks, the Infant/Toddler Specialist Network supports State, Territory, and Tribal leaders in using Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF) to ensure effective and meaningful improvements in infant/toddler child care quality. The Network also identifies and shares innovative, research-based best practices in programs serving infants, toddlers, and their families.

The Infant/Toddler Specialist Network works with States to:

• Improve education of infants, toddlers, and their care providers. 
• Improve the coordination of services across EC professional development programs. 
• Support implementation of high-quality professional pathways for teachers and child care providers working with infants and toddlers in child care centers and family child care homes.
• Support continuity of care and teacher/child relationships by encouraging the implementation of licensing policies that promote healthy development of infants and toddlers, including children with special needs.
• Create a cadre of infant/toddler specialists, coaches, and master teachers within each State and contribute to their professional development.
• Provide States with targeted TA, as requested, to improve programs serving infants, toddlers, and their families.

How Are Infant/Toddler Services Identified and Rolled Out?

Infant/Toddler Specialists work with the SCBC’s other networks—State Systems and Intensive Capacity Building—to prioritize approved CCDF TA goals. They assess readiness to implement solutions, recommend specific TA resources and activities, and determine strategies for measuring results. All activities are planned and delivered collaboratively with their early childhood TA system partners to ensure the best possible outcomes for the infants/toddlers in States, Territories, and Tribes.

What Framework Will Anchor State Efforts to Support the Healthy Development of Infants and Toddlers?

The Infant/Toddler Specialist Network will use the Program for Infant/Toddler Care’s (PITC) Six Essential Policies to anchor conversations related to high-quality care for infants, toddlers, and their families. These guiding principles for family-centered and relationship-based care can provide States, Territories, and Tribes with a foundation for policies, procedures, and professional development that respects this critical period of life.