State Early Childhood Technical Assistance Systems

Oklahoma

• Part C TA System Description
• 1/19/07

Basic design features

The Oklahoma technical assistance system is a centralized system covering the entire state and is called the Statewide Training and Regional Support, STARS, program. It is maintained at the Tolbert Center for Developmental Disabilities in the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, which works collaboratively with the Department of Education, the Part C Lead Agency. STARS is funded primarily by Part C but also by other federal sources including Part B Section 619 Preschool, and Part B 3-21 CSPD. The primary agencies and organizations that make up the STARS TA system are the Lead Agency and organizations outside the Lead Agency supported by contracts including the Tolbert Center, the State Health Department, and the Department of Human Services.

Primary clients/recipients of technical assistance services

Early intervention providers and administrators are the primary clients/recipients of technical assistance services. Secondary clients include other programs such as Head Start, Part B Preschool, local childcare providers, Parents as Teachers, Even Start, other Health Department programs, and Department of Human Services – Developmental Disabilities Services Division. Families are considered to be direct clients/recipients of TA services. Parents can attend any training that is offered through the TA system.

Ways technical assistance is provided

The Technical assistance is occasionally provided through statewide conferences. It is most frequently provided through regional/topical workshops, in-service training courses, consultations to programs, and information and consultation provided by telephone and email. Early intervention team leaders across the state have been trained to provide on-going technical assistance through coaching, mentoring and group process facilitation. STARS is piloting the use of distance learning technologies, and the use of such technologies is expected to expand.

TA system operations

Annually, a needs assessment survey is sent to all service providers and service coordinators, as well as to Head Start, child care providers, and Section 619 preschool providers, Part B special education teachers and related service providers, and Department of Human Services – Developmental Disabilities Service Division related service providers. Priorities are set and TA planned primarily based on the results of the needs assessment, on results from program monitoring, and on current best practices.

Individual early intervention staff members, through a process of performance evaluation with their supervisors, develop their own Individual Development Plans that outline their staff development and training needs. These performance evaluations are based on role descriptions, competencies and quality indicators that are used statewide for early intervention personnel. Training events are also planned around these competencies and indicators.

A statewide master calendar of training events is issued annually. The system also gathers and disseminates information about local training events through local leadership teams. Occasionally events target only early intervention staff, but mostly events target multiple client groups.

STARS team training for early intervention teams consists of workshops organized within six modules: family-centered care, appreciating individual differences, evaluation and functional assessment, individualized family service plans, service delivery, and team building. Annually, early intervention team leaders and members write a plan used to identify strengths, needs, and strategies for personal and team development. Based on the needs of teams and members, training is provided by team leaders, Tolbert Center staff and faculty, or state-level SoonerStart program coordinators.

Evaluation of the TA system

Evaluation of the TA system includes participant satisfaction surveys, analysis of participant perceived knowledge level change, and follow-up surveys regarding application of new knowledge and skills. The system maintains a database that keeps numbers of those attending training events. Types of requests for TA are also collected through the state monitoring process. All of this information feeds back into planning for training and technical assistance.

Relationship of TA system to the monitoring of local programs

The outcomes of local monitoring determine many of the needs and priorities to be addressed by the state TA system along with results of needs assessment and best practice priorities.

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

The state TA system is included within the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development. There are five aspects of the state personnel development system including: technical training; team training; leadership training resulting in coaching, mentoring, confronting training, and group process facilitation by team leaders; peer mentoring; and on your own (OYO) training.

Technical assistance services are not related to university courses/credits but can provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs). An Early Intervention credentialing program does not exist in the state, but TA services can assist some participants in licensing requirements.

The state has defined roles of staff positions, indicators and competencies for these roles, and these guide the objectives of the training curriculum and the coaching and mentoring processes. The indicators and competencies also provide expected performance measures for individual personnel evaluations.

Relationship with Section 619 of Part B

State TA system plans and activities involve the Section 619 Preschool program both at the state and local level. They participate in needs assessment and participate in training statewide. Regional training is provided for both Part C and Section 619 staff particularly on transition procedures. Part B, Section 619 provides funding for the TA system.

For further information, contact:

• Julie D. Smith, OTR/L
• Clinical Occupational Therapist
• Tolbert Center for Developmental Disabilities
• Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center
• P.O. Box 26901
• Oklahoma City, OK 73109
• Phone: (405) 271-2131 Ext 47120
• Fax: (405) 271-2432
• Email: Julie-Smith@ouhsc.edu