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Virtual Infant/Toddler & School-Age Child Care (ITSACC) Institute
The 2019 Infant/Toddler & School-Age Child Care (ITSACC) Institute was held virtually. The institute, titled Bridging the Child Care Continuum through Policy and Practice, kicked off with a plenary session on October 2, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET.
The ITSACC Institute was designed to build the capacity of professionals working to manage and support child care systems, particularly those focused on infant/toddler or school-age care policies and practices implemented under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program.
The 2019 virtual ITSACC Institute started with a kick-off webinar titled Quality: An Equity Lens across the Age Continuum. Shannon Christian, Director of the Office of Child Care, provided a welcome and introduction to the ITSACC Institute. The keynote speaker, Dr. Aisha Ray, Professor Emerita at the Erikson Institute and Distinguished Fellow at the BUILD Initiative, discussed the importance of using a racial equity lens in our quality initiatives to support children across the age continuum.The full schedule was as follows:
Opening plenary session Wednesday, October 2, 2019, 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Webinar 1: November 13, 2019 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET: Family Child Care (FCC): Supporting Quality
Webinar 2: December 11, 2019 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET: Quality Improvement Systems That Support Children Across the Age Continuum
Webinar 3: January 8, 2020 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET: Trauma and Resilience: The Role of Child Care Providers
Following are full descriptions, videos, and resources for each event.
ITSACC Virtual Events
Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Shannon Christian, Director of the Office of Child Care, provided a welcome and introduction to the Institute. The keynote speaker, Dr. Aisha Ray, Professor Emerita at the Erikson Institute and Distinguished Fellow at the BUILD Initiative, discussed the importance of using a racial equity lens in our quality initiatives to support children across the age continuum. She focused on how systems, from states to child care providers, can address the gaps in equity. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
This interactive webinar session focused on the supports needed by FCC Providers. It examined state policies, systems, and technical assistance strategies that assist FCC providers in the provision of high-quality care to children within mixed-age groups. Participants explored a newly published brief entitled “Voices from the Field” which includes strategies identified in focus groups conducted with family child care providers during the past year in various parts of the country. In addition, participants had the opportunity to share best practices and initiatives from their work. This session will be followed one week later with age-specific breakout discussion sessions.
This brief shares findings from a series of focus groups with family child care providers supporting mixed-age groups of children.
Topics addressed include:
Experiences of FCC providers supporting mixed-age groups
Challenges of caring for children in FCC mixed-age groups
Promising practices among providers serving all children
Understanding from current FCC providers what helps them stay in the field
Determining what training and technical assistance is helpful for providers serving children from birth to 13 years
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
This webinar focused on child care quality initiatives that support programs serving children across the age continuum from infancy through age 12. It examined state policies, systems, and initiatives that are responsive to the unique needs of programs that serve infants, toddlers, and school-age children through a focus on quality.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
This interactive webinar focused on the effect of trauma on children’s learning. It addressed the role of teachers and providers using resilience building strategies to support children across the age continuum.
Learn more about the Child Care State Capacity Building Center’s Infant/Toddler Specialist Network and the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment.
For additional information, contact the Infant/Toddler Specialist Network at SCBC_InfantToddlerNetwork@icf.com.
