Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care Initiative

  • About the Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care Initiative

    The Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care (EQ) Initiative works with the Early Childhood Councils, Infant and Toddler Specialists and Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care (EQIT) trainers to work toward its primary goal of increasing the quality and availability of responsive care for infants and toddlers throughout Colorado by:

    • Strengthening the skills and knowledge base of Early Childhood professionals working with infants and toddlers
    • Building capacity and promoting systemic change to foster increased quality and availability of care and services
    • Supporting leadership and collaboration at the community level
    • Facilitating professional development for infant toddler professionals, particularly those who are teaching or coaching infant toddler teachers

    Learn more about the history of the EQ Initiative.

    Lost your EQIT certificate? Get a replacement here. 

     

    Looking for your EQIT Certificate in the new PDIS? Watch this video! 

  • EQIT Course


    The Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care (EQIT) 48-hour course of training is designed for individuals like you who currently work with or plan to work with infants and toddlers and are interested in improving your knowledge and skills. It is particularly appropriate for child care providers who are looking for an in-depth, hands-on course focused on work with infants and toddlers in group care and who may not have taken many early education college courses.

    Once you enroll in the course, you are encouraged to take advantage of on-site coaching to deepen your understanding and skills. Please speak with your EQIT course instructor for more information.
    Successful completion of the EQIT 48-hour course of training meets the infant toddler training requirements specific to early childhood teachers, center directors, and the specialized family child care licenses.

    Cost and Registration

    The EQIT course is offered at very low cost in communities across Colorado by EQIT instructors who have completed an intensive EQIT Training of Trainers course. EQIT coaches complete additional professional development in the use of the EQ RELATE coaching tool. 

    View the list of EQIT course providers to identify the EQIT Registration Contact in your area or email us at cdhs_oec_eq@state.co.us for more information.

    Outcomes

    Participants in the EQIT Course learn about the importance of brain development in the first 3 years of life, social/emotional, cognitive, and physical development, and working with families as well as effective strategies for curriculum and discipline through 16 3-hour modules. These modules include:

    • The Wonder of Infancy
    • Care of the Spirit
    • Responsive Caregiving for Healthy Relationships
    • Our Partners, The Families
    • Cornerstones of Quality Care: Health, Safety, and Nutrition (two modules)
    • The Power of Places and Spaces
    • Day to Day the Relationship Way: Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers
    • Exploring Early Learning
    • Nurturing Language and Discovering Literacy (two modules)
    • Babies in Motion
    • Understanding and Respecting the Gifts of Culture
    • Welcoming Children with Special Needs
    • Making a Difference with Relationship Based Care
    • Celebrating Our Profession

    In addition to the 48 hours of direct class time, each participant is also offered coaching through the EQ RELATE Model of Coaching. Following similar relationship-based principles covered in the EQIT Course, EQ RELATE Coaching supports providers in reflecting on and applying new understandings to their own practice.

    Instructors

    EQ Instructors must participate in a 70 hour Training of Trainers, continue with ongoing professional development, and collaborate with their local Early Childhood Council to implement the EQIT Course. 

    There are about 120 EQ instructors in the State of Colorado that serve as Infant Toddler Specialists and are offered further professional development opportunities through the EQ Initiative. These opportunities include trainings with national presenters from organizations such as Pacific Oaks College and Zero to Three.

    College Credit

    Courses are offered throughout the year in local communities across the state. In collaboration with a variety of community colleges, many communities also offer participants the opportunity to receive college credit for participation in EQIT.

  • Infant Toddler Specialist Network

    An Infant Toddler Specialist is defined as an individual whose role is to provide support to professionals and caregivers who provide early care and education to infants and toddlers.

    Funded in large part by the Infant/Toddler Earmark within the Child Care Development Block Grant, many states have developed an Infant/Toddler Specialist Network by funding these specialists to work with local programs in communities throughout the state.

    In Colorado, the EQ Initiative has built a network of Infant Toddler Specialists with over 120 active EQ Instructors throughout the state. With extensive professional development opportunities provided by the EQ Initiative and a variety of experiences in working with infants, toddlers, providers, and families, EQ Instructors are well positioned to support the needs of infants and toddlers throughout their community.

    Resources for Infant/Toddler Specialists:

  • Assessment for Infants and Toddlers

    One important aspect of quality care for infants and toddlers is the ongoing assessment of a baby’s development and a plan with individualized responsive curriculum to insure that any necessary interventions are implemented as early as possible.

    Resources are also available for infant and toddler development, screening and assessment from Zero to Three and Head Start.

  • Touchpoints Approach to Infant Toddler Care

    As part of the EQ Initiative, EQ Instructors and Early Childhood Council Coordinators are encouraged to attend a Touchpoints Individual Level Training (ILT) to strengthen their skills in establishing healthy positive relationships with parents and providers in their communities.

    Based on the work of renowned pediatrician, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, the Brazelton Touchpoints Approach is a cross-disciplinary approach focused on supporting the development of children through relationships with those who care for them.

    In many communities Touchpoints teams offer the Individual Level Trainings to local community partners. Contact your early childhood council or Lisa Matter at cdhs_oec_eq@state.co.us to find a touchpoints training near you.

    Watch the Touchpoints Approach Video.

    There currently are 9 active Touchpoints teams across Colorado. This includes the EQ Specialty Team, which provides training to EQ Instructors, Early Childhood Council Coordinators, and other statewide groups. 

    The Colorado Touchpoints Network provides networking, technical assistance and support to the Touchpoints teams across the state.