State Early Childhood Technical Assistance Systems

Indiana

• Birth to Five TA System Description
• 6/20/02

Basic design features

Technical assistance to Early Intervention Programs and preschool programs is part of a Unified Training System (UTS) coordinated among First Steps, Bureau of Child Development, Division of Family and Children; the Indiana Department of Education, Division of Exceptional Learners. The UTS supports the statewide coordination of training activities and provides greater access to learning opportunities for family members and personnel providing early intervention and preschool special education services under IDEA. The UTS includes six collaborating entities, including five university programs and one statewide family training organizations, which work with families and direct service providers to develop and deliver local, regional, and statewide training events, services and products. In addition, the UTS supports training for service providers of Head Start and community child care settings.

Other organizations that provide related technical assistance but are not directly supported by the Lead Agency include Child Care Block Grant, Head Start, Childcare Resource & Referral, the Health Department, INSOURCE, IPIN, Riley Hospital Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, the University Affiliated Program of Indiana.

Trainers are people from the field, partnered with parents for best practice perspective. It is required that parents be part of the training teams.

Primary clients/recipients of technical assistance services

The clients/recipients of technical assistance depend on the type of training being provided. However, training is not "segregated" but is targeted to many groups simultaneously including parents. Parents must be invited to be part of every training as participants and presenters. Efforts are made to attract an interdisciplinary audience from different fields including Head Start and Early Head Start, Child Care, foster parents, MCH clinics, WIC, Children's Care Coordinators, and Part B Preschool Staff.

Ways technical assistance is provided

Technical assistance is frequently provided by statewide conferences, regional/topical workshops, in-service training courses, consultation via telephone and email, peer-to-peer information exchange and consultation, and by print and non-print materials. In addition, technical assistance is occasionally provided through consultation to programs, use of model demonstration sites, mini grants to support innovative practices and informal mentoring.

Distance-learning techniques that are being used to provide technical assistance include interactive video and audio teleconferencing, CD-ROM, instructional audio and videocassettes, and self-study modules. A series of videocassettes has been developed for physicians, and they receive CME credit for completing. The state is also developing use of the Web site as a means of providing technical assistance.

TA system operations

There is one contract to manage training for birth to five. This contractor subcontracts, distributes training and manages with five other training entities. They submit an annual proposal in response to needs assessment and priorities, budget, etc. Part C and Part B plan together.

Federal Part C and Part B funds are used for the system. State funds include funds from the Lead Agency and other state agencies including UTS members and Department of Education. Local interagency council funds pay for some training.

A centralized registration service is available for all UTS sponsored events. In addition a system is in place to track credential information for service providers.

Parent training needs are assessed through family-to-family forums held throughout the state. Financial support is available for parent participation through the Family Involvement Fund.

Evaluation of the TA system

There is a standard evaluation form for each training event, and the information, both quantitative and qualitative, is aggregated by computer. Semi-annual reports of this information provide demographic profile of participants and results of the evaluations.

Informal needs assessments are done through this evaluation process. In addition, quarterly meetings are held with UTS providers to determine results of training and future needs.

Long-term evaluation procedures look at practice issues to determine if training has changed individuals' behavior and practice.

Relationship of TA system to the monitoring/supervision of local programs

The outcomes of local monitoring determine most of the needs and priorities to be addressed by the state technical assistance system.

Relationship of TA system to the state's Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)

The technical assistance system is part of the state CSPD. All training activities are planned and coordinated with Indiana's CSPD. Credentials or licensure credits are available to all trainees who participate. The technical assistance services are also related to university courses/credits, CEUs, and career ladder development. A committee of the State ICC addresses the relationship between the technical assistance system and CSPD.

For further information, contact:

• Linda Hankins
• UTS Facilitator
• Community Education and Child Advocacy
• Riley Hospital for Children
• 575 West Drive, Room 008
• Indianapolis, IN 46202
• Phone: 317/274-6939
• Fax: 317/278-3221
• Email: lhankins@iupui.edu