EXPANDING  QUALITY  IN  INFANT TODDLER CARE

The Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care Initiative (EQ) began in 1999 as a joint collaboration between the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care.  The goal is to increase the quality and availability of infant toddler group care in Colorado through a variety of professional development activities. Funding for this initiative is provided by federal Child Care Development Fund dollars.

Click here for:  EQ and Ounce Training Schedule & Registration 2008-09 for Boulder County

ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The primary activity of the EQ Initiative is providing training and coaching in infant toddler caregiving to child care providers across Colorado. This 48-hour EQ Curriculum course meets the training requirements specific to infant nursery supervisor and the specialized family child care licenses. All training and coaching is offered at no charge to providers.
In an effort to build local community capacity, the EQ Initiative utilizes a “Training of Trainers” approach. Over 110 individuals have completed the EQ Training of Trainers and are now conducting training and providing support to early childhood professionals in their local communities.
Since the beginning of the EQ Initiative, over 1850 child care providers throughout Colorado have completed the full, 45-hour EQ Training Course. Many of these providers have also received coaching in their workplace using the EQ Relate coaching tool.
EQ Community Teachers are active in pursuing their own professional development. The EQ Initiative supports this effort by offering ongoing learning opportunities for those who are conducting EQ training. Over 250 hours of professional development, including an Advanced Infancy Certification course, have been offered to our cadre of EQ Community Teachers.

THE EQ CURRICULUM
The EQ Curriculum supports a comprehensive, introductory course in providing quality group care for infants and toddlers. This course builds on the knowledge and experiences of infant toddler caregivers through interesting, interactive and fun activities. At the heart of the EQ Curriculum is a belief in the importance of providing responsive, respectful, relationship-based quality care for all infants and toddlers.

OUNCE SCALE TRAINING
The Ounce Scale is an observational assessment system for use with infants & toddlers from birth to 42 months. It involves families in assessment and provides standards for infant and toddler behavior and development. The Ounce Scale focuses on how children use skills in the context of their natural environment. Providers and families work together to learn about the child’s development in four basic domains: Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Cognitive Development, and Physical Development.
This assessment is appropriate for use in a wide variety of settings serving young children, including child care centers and family child care homes, Even Start programs, Early Head Start, family visitation programs,  Part C/Early Childhood connections, and other family support programs.
For more information contact, ECCBC Infant Toddler Caregiving Training Coordinator, Jane Nelson at jen2846@comcast.net or Tele: 303-913-9177.