Infant/Toddler Quality Initiative (ITQI)

What is ITQI?

Since 1999, Nebraska's Early Head Start Infant/Toddler Quality Initiative has supported Early Head Start (EHS) and community child care partnerships to improve the quality and professionalism of infant and toddler care. Through these partnerships, federal EHS grantees provide professional development opportunities to home-based and center-based partners; assist in training and mentoring; and observe and report on the best outcomes and challenges for child care partners who participate in the initiative, as well as measures of quality within the partner’s child care environments.

Program Benefits

  • Individual on-site coaching/mentoring with an experienced early childhood professional
  • Funds are available to purchase materials for program quality improvement such as books, storage, equipment, and toys
  • Child care partners may also receive access to professional development, technical assistance, and information about community-based resources​

Program Successes

  • Significant improvement between pre and post assessment scores
  • Increases in the number of professional development hours completed by participants
  • Project is individualized to needs and learning styles of participants
  • There is a greater focus on quality, the impact of their work, and the importance of these first few years of the child's life
  • Participants are excited and enthusiastic to try new things

Participant
​Responsibilities

  • There is no cost to participate in ITQI!
  • Commit to 1 year of quality program improvement through coaching/mentoring, goal setting, and professional development
  • Develop a program improvement plan and set goals
  • Continue to meet state licensing standards

Participant
​Requirements

  • Licensed child care center and family childcare providers in Lancaster & Saunders counties.
  • Must be serving Infants and/or Toddlers.
  • Providers interested in improving quality.
  • Preference given to providers that serve families receiving child care subsidy

Program Options

Option 1

  • 2 Environment Rating Scale observations, including feedback sessions, identifying strengths, program assessment and setting goals
  • Monthly visits by trained Infant Toddler Initiative Coordinator
  • Provider will select and receive materials to enhance the quality of their program
  • Provider will receive training and professional development based on need and preference
  • Provider may participate in professional development through community trainings
  • Provider may access the Resource Library and Lending Library Materials

Option 2

  • 1 Environment Rating Scale observation, including feedback sessions, identifying strengths, and setting goals
  • Provider may participate in professional development through community trainings
  • Provider may access the Resource Library and Lending Library Materials

Option 3

  • ​Provider may participate in professional development through community trainings
  • Provider may access the Resource Library and Lending Library Materials

    Have questions or want more info about the ITQI program?
    ​Fill out the form below our ITQI Program Coordinator will contact you.
    ​
Funding for Infant Toddler Quality Initiative provided by Health & Human Services System, Federal Child Care Development Block Grant. Services provided by Nebraska Association for the Education of Young Children, Inc., in collaboration with Community Action Partnership of Lancaster & Saunders Counties.

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