VA ITSN Goals and Key Features

Striving to achieve excellence in early care by increasing the knowledge and skill level of those who care for infants and toddlers, whether in family day homes or in centers.

E

Improve the quality of care and education that infants and toddlers receive while in child day centers and family day homes, with a focus on supporting success in the VQB5, unified measurement and improvement system

E

Increase the educational level and competencies of infant and toddler caregivers, teachers, and directors through technical assistance, training, and connection to existing relevant opportunities to support quality of care and education

E

Increase use of strategies and practices by caregivers, teachers, directors, and families to promote the social emotional development of infants and toddlers thereby reducing challenging behaviors

E

Implement an effective, efficient, and accountable VA ITSN that meets the determined measures of success

E
Increase community connections to enhance awareness and use of available resources/services that support healthy, safe, and nurturing care for infants and toddlers

The Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $5,350,000 with 100% funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the Virginia Department of Education, ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Our Services

Infant and toddler specialists and consultants provide services designed to strengthen the capacity of early care and education programs to deliver high-quality services:

Coaching

A relationship-based process that includes mentoring and support using quality improvement plans

Training

Training to groups of caregivers/teachers and directors through face-to-face, distance, technology-based or hybrid methods

Technical Assistance

Support and resources to help child care providers achieve excellence in early care for infants and toddlers

Our Approach

The Virginia Infant & Toddler Specialist Network (VA ITSN) strives to achieve excellence in early care by increasing the knowledge level and skills of those who care for infants and toddlers, whether in family day homes or in center-based programs. It also serves to link existing community resources that support healthy, safe, and nurturing care for children, birth-36 months.

Highly qualified infant and toddler specialists and infant and toddler behavior consultants work in nine regional offices across the state, that subcontract with Child Development Resources. The specialists and consultants provide professional development opportunities designed to strengthen the capacity of early care and education programs to deliver high-quality services:

  • Quality Improvement provides consultation, mentoring, training, and support using quality improvement plans.
  • Quality Enhancement includes training and technical assistance to groups of caregivers/teachers and directors.
  • Quality Assurance provides resources; e-mail, telephone, and video consultation; and linkages to existing professional development opportunities.

Infant and toddler specialists and consultants work side by side with teachers and directors to help develop an improvement plan that meets the individual needs of each program and builds on the strengths of each provider.

Enhance Quality of Care

The following standards and tools are used to enhance quality of care for infants and toddlers:

  • Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)
  • Virginia Early Learning and Development Standards
  • Virginia Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals
  • Infant and Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS-R)
  • Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale (FCCERS-R)
  • CLASS Environment
  • TPITOS
  • ASQ-3
  • ASQ: SE-2
  • M-CHAT R/F
  • PICCOLO
  • LENA Grow
Interactive

The Network offers creative ideas and support for improving the quality of infant and toddler programs. Practical staff training and resources are offered at no cost to infant and toddler programs and providers. State-approved training hours are offered after completion of training.

Each year, the VA ITSN offers Celebrating Babies and Tots (CBT) institutes throughout the state which are full-day professional development training opportunities for caregivers/teachers and directors that increase skills, strategies, and ideas for providing high-quality services for infants and toddlers.

Collaborative
Collaboration and partnership are critical in ensuring the success of the VA ITSN. Partnerships on the local level build on the successes of existing community initiatives. A collaborative approach strengthens the capacity of early care and education programs and links them with existing community resources that support healthy, safe and nurturing care for children from birth to age 3.
Innovative
Observation and Assessment: Prior to beginning coaching services, infant and toddler specialists complete a CLASS Environment assessment of each classroom. The ITERS-R or FCCERS-R assessment may also be completed. The measures along with CLASS scores are used to help identify goals to be included in the classroom’s QIP.
Quality Improvement Plan: Infant and toddler specialists work with site directors and staff to determine goals and priorities for classroom improvement. In addition to goals, QIPs include expected outcomes, services to be provided, timelines, and persons responsible in order to ensure commitment to implementation. QIPs are monitored over time and revised as needed.
Individualized Services: Individualized services, based on classroom strengths and needs, include consultation, targeted training, classroom-focused mentoring and feedback to support application of new knowledge and practice of new skills, modeling, reflective practice, and resources. Each classroom receiving services receives resources, materials, and other supports.
Infant and Toddler Behavior Consultation: Behavior coaching services are provided to sites that serve infants and toddlers to promote social emotional development, improve quality of teacher-child interactions, and reduce challenging behaviors. Child behavior coaching is also provided for children 0-36 months enrolled in child care and their families.

Find your VA ITSN region below

Central

Counties: Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, Surry, and Sussex.

Cities: Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond

 

Southeastern

Counties: Accomack, Isle of Wight, Northampton, and Southampton

Cities: Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach

North Central

Counties: Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, King George, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, and Stafford

Cities: Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park

 

Capital Area

Counties:  Arlington and Fairfax

Cities: Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church

Chesapeake Bay

Counties: Essex, Gloucester, James City, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland, and York

Cities: Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg

 

West

Counties: Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Henry, Highland, Patrick, Roanoke, and Rockbridge

Cities: Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Martinsville, Roanoke, and Salem

Southside

Counties: Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Brunswick, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, and Prince Edward

Cities: Danville, Halifax, and Lynchburg

 

Southwest

Counties: Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe

Cities: Bristol, Galax, Norton, and Radford

Blue Ridge

Counties:  Albemarle, Augusta, Buckingham, Clarke, Fluvanna, Frederick, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren

Cities: Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester

office hours

M-F: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Address

210 Packets Court
Williamsburg, VA 23185

PHONE & EMAIL

757.378.3177
info@va-itsnetwork.org

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The Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $5,350,000 with 100% funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the Virginia Department of Education, ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government.