State Early Childhood Technical Assistance Systems

New Jersey

• Part C TA System Description
• 12/1/06

Basic design features

The New Jersey state Training and Technical Assistance (T & TA) system is incorporated within the structure of the Part C Lead Agency, the Division of Family Health Services, Department of Health and Senior Services. The system is decentralized by regions, although technical assistance is provided by both the state staff and the Regional Early Intervention Collaborative (REIC) staff. The Lead Agency supports the T & TA system.Other agencies provide technical assistance which is available to the early intervention client group including the University Affiliated Program, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, Inc. (SPAN) which is the Parent Training and Information organization in the state, and the Department of Education through Learning Resource Centers. The early intervention T & TA System also coordinates with some Head Start and MAPS to Inclusive Childcare training.

Primary clients/recipients of technical assistance services

Early intervention program providers, service coordinators, administrators and families are considered to be the primary clients/recipients of technical assistance services. Secondary clients include childcare providers, Early Head Start staff, school district personnel, physicians, members of the State ICC, and case managers from county-based Special Child Health Services. Clients are divided by geographic regions. Families are considered direct clients/recipients of TA services. Technical assistance for families is also provided through the Family Support Coordinators in the REICs.

Ways technical assistance is provided

Technical assistance is frequently provided through regional/topical workshops, consultation to programs, information and consultation via telephone and email, peer information exchange and consultation, print materials, and regional forums and training activities. Occasionally, technical assistance is provided through statewide conferences, in-service training courses and model demonstration sites (e.g. Primary Intervention Model).The state T & TA system is just beginning to develop distance learning technologies for providing technical assistance. Some instructional videocassettes are available, and some self study modules are under development.

TA system operations

Needs are assessed regionally through surveys and monitoring results at least annually and sometimes more frequently. Priorities are determined and activities planned by state and regional staff. The regional T & TA coordinators meet monthly, and the REIC and state staffs meet together at least two times a year for strategic planning. There are a number of activities planned on an annual calendar, including orientation training to the IFSP and Administrator Forums. Expansion to a comprehensive, coordinated master calendar of training activities is under development. T & TA activities usually involve multiple client groups.On December 31, 1998, a statewide Stakeholder Task Force presented fifty-one recommendations for the early intervention system. These recommendations resulted in short and long range activities to implement system changes that include the establishment of additional task forces and workgroups. State and regional T & TA are critical to the planning and implementation of the system change.

Evaluation of the TA system

Participant evaluations are completed on statewide and regional training, and results are used to modify training. Progress is being monitored on programs’ natural environment work plans following technical assistance on that topic. The TA system is considering how to track and evaluate results of mandated training on orientation, procedural safeguards and transition. 

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 TA system.

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

New Jersey’s CSPD System is designed as a statewide network of regional training and technical assistance coordinators who work at the regional/local provider level under the guidance of the Regional Early Intervention Collaboratives (REICs) and State CSPD Coordinator.

The State CSPD Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of a state plan for personnel development including innovative strategies and activities for the preparation, recruitment, and retention of qualified early intervention providers. T & TA Coordinators help to ensure that local providers implement pre-service and in-service training effectively and appropriately.

In addition, regional T & TA Coordinators are linked with other state and national early childhood initiatives and activities to enhance personnel development and best practice for early intervention.

Relationship with Section 619 of Part B

Some of the T & TA system activities also involve the state’s Section 619, preschool program. For example, workshops on transition are jointly planned and provided to both Part C and Section 619 staff.

For further information, contact:

• Marilyn Dunning
• CSPD Coordinator
• Early Intervention System
• Division of Family Health Services
• Department of Health and Senior Services
• PO Box 364
• Trenton, NJ 08625-0364
• Phone: (609) 777-7734
• Fax: (609) 292-0296
• E-mail: mdunning@doh.state.nj.us