State Early Childhood Technical Assistance Systems

Massachusetts

• Part C TA System Description
• 1/22/07

Basic design features

The Massachusetts TA system is coordinated through the central office of the lead agency as well as through five regional EI offices (located in regional public health offices). The TA system is also integrated with a contract for the "EI Training Center" at the Federation for Children with Special Needs. Other Part C TA resources include a contract with a private provider to conduct TA on billing procedures (Medicaid and other third party billing). Some EI providers are members of a provider trade organization, the "Massachusetts EI Consortium" and receive TA through that organization.

At this point, the TA system is supported by the Part C lead agency, although the SIG may fund a new position within the lead agency (the Massachusetts Department of Health). Part C enjoys a close working relationship on TA provision with other programs within the MA Department of Public Health (Specialty Services, Parent Initiatives) as well as other state agencies (Office of Child Care Services, the MA Department of Education, the Head Start Collaboration Project, and the Massachusetts "Infant Toddler Services Summit" (co-chaired by the Part C staff person who oversees the TA system).

Primary clients/recipients of technical assistance services

• EI providers (under contract to the Massachusetts Part C program through the MA Dept. of Public Health)
• EI administrators
• Parents and other family members
• Other community early childhood programs: Early Head Start, family childcare providers, Childcare Resource and Referral agencies, etc.

The MA Part C program deliberately provides program training and technical assistance and parent training/technical assistance through the same agency.

Ways technical assistance is provided

TA is provided in a variety of ways, most frequently through regional/topical workshops, in-service training, program consultation by state and regional staff, telephone and e-mail, peer-to-peer information exchange, and mentoring opportunities for staff, families, and administrators. Some distance learning strategies are also being used, e.g., occasional video conferencing, e-mail and web-based services. Various programs have established resource lending libraries.

EI information is included on the MA Department of Public Health Web site, and there is also a separate Web site containing information on EI billing. Links to EI information can also be found through the "Family Ties" Web Site at the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

TA system operations

A lead agency staff person oversees five regional EI specialists. These EI specialists are responsible for providing TA and for monitoring the EI contracts in the region. TA is integrated with parent and provider training efforts.

Current priorities for the TA system include:

1. improving parent –professional partnerships and promoting quality services in natural environments (this is included as an early childhood goal in the MA State Improvement Grant);
2. improving accountability and measuring impacts of the EI Training Center;
3. developing stronger linkages with the MA Department of Education; and
4. identifying best practices and emerging new practices in the state.

Evaluation of the TA system

It is difficult to quantify the impact of TA. MA is currently collecting information through the EI training contract on the number of participants in various training/TA events and other basic evaluative information. MA is also beginning to use contract performance indicators to measure compliance with federal and state standards and regulations. This information will be used to determine program TA plans.

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

TA is seen as part of the overall quality improvement effort. Each of the five regional EI Specialists has between 12-15 programs to monitor for compliance with federal and state regulations. They are also in the process of developing individualized TA plans for each of the programs. As a result of the federal monitoring visit, TA strategies are being revised to focus more on quality improvement as well as compliance.

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

The MA Part C TA system is linked to the CSPD through the ICC and its Personnel Committee. This committee advises the lead agency on the TA approaches used as well as personnel certification and other CSPD issues. There has been significant effort to revise the CSPD over the past year.

Relationship with Section 619 of Part B

The MA Department of Public Health and the MA Department of Education have conducted joint training since the 1970’s. Transition and inclusion in childcare are popular topics. Both departments participate on the "Infant Toddler Services Summit" and are also looking at the issue of after school services for young children.

For further information, contact:

• Ron Benham, Part C Coordinator
• State Department of Public Health
• 250 Washington Street, 4th Floor
• Boston, MA 02108-4619
• Phone: (617) 624-5901
• Fax: (617) 624-5927
• AltPhone1: (617) 624-5070
• AltPhone2: (800) 905-8437 (EI Central Directory)
• Email: ron.benham@state.ma.us
• Website: www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Departments+and+Divisions&L3=Department+of+Public+Health&L4=Programs+and+Services+A+-+J&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dph_com_health_g_div_perinatal&csid=Eeohhs2