Quick Links

• Laws & Regulations
• Budget Information
• Facts & Stats
• Revised CDER
• Self-Directed Services
• DDS Forms
• Publications & Other Resources
• Employment Opportunities
• Public Records Requests
• Appeals, Complaints & Comments
• Small Business and Disabled Veterans Advocates
• Español
• Newsroom
• Contact Us

Documents identified by PDF (Portable Document Format) requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader to be viewed and printed. If you do not already have the Adobe Reader, it can be downloaded for free from Adobe.

Training and Technical Assistance

The Early Start service system was implemented in 1993 under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to enhance and coordinate quality early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers (birth - three years of age) and their families in California. The delivery of quality early intervention services envisioned by Part C of IDEA requires that personnel are qualified and appropriately trained to provide those services to eligible infants, and toddlers and their families.

The Department of Developmental Services' (DDS) Early Start Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) provides the framework for coordinating the delivery of personnel development activities throughout California. DDS contracts with the WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention to facilitate the implementation of CSPD projects.

Early Start Statewide Institutes

The Early Start Institute series is an early intervention curriculum that is research based and family centered. Each Institute is designed to provide learning experiences facilitated by parent and professional trainers who have extensive experience in the field of early intervention.

Key concepts are addressed and implementation ideas are shared regarding:

• Evaluation & Assessments
• Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP)
• Relationship based services
• Partnerships

Early Start Personnel Development Fund/Scholarships

Since 1996, the Department of Developmental Services, lead agency for Part C, has supported Early Start's Comprehensive System of Personnel Development by offering training scholarships and grants to enhance the qualifications and competencies of personnel who provide early intervention services. The Early Start Personnel Development Fund provides supplemental funding to assist personnel in local programs and agencies to:

1. Attend statewide training opportunities
2. Implement local training events that address community-specific needs
3. Encourage professionals to specialize in the field of early intervention
4. Establish or refine innovative procedures or processes that enhance the quality of Early Start services

• Application Form (PDF)

Who should attend!

Agency teams, parents working in Early Start Family Resource Centers, and professionals working with infants and toddlers and their families receiving early intervention services are encouraged to attend.

• Early Start Institute Series and Skill Builders have been designed to provide service providers and service coordinators with an early intervention curriculum which addresses the variety of interests and needs considered critical for the delivery of appropriate early intervention services.
• Advanced Practice Institute, introduced in 2006, is an institute designed especially for managers and service coordinators with extensive experience in the Early Start system. Curriculum focuses on skill development.
• Family Resources and Supports Institute ensure that quality parent-to-parent and family support services are delivered by qualified staff. This Institute is dedicated to providing a range of new ideas, strategies, supports and networking opportunities for family support staff. The Institute is usually held in February or March to coincide with Early Start Month.
• Special Topic Trainings and Forums state of the art training is offered on special topics related to the Early Start service system and the delivery of early intervention services.

For registration information go to: WestEd Online Registration

Other Training Opportunities

Early Start Personnel Development Scholarship Fund provides financial support for professional development to personnel who provide early intervention services.

Community College Paraprofessional Preparation Project develops a comprehensive curriculum for persons interested in working with infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities through a network of community college child development programs. For more information on participating colleges and whether or not they offer distance learning download The Early Start Central Directory of Early Intervention Resources.

Early Start Consultant Network provides technical assistance in CSPD product development, the site monitoring process, and other State priority projects.

The following CSPD projects are collaborative efforts of DDS and interagency community partners.

Special Education Early Childhood Administrators Project (SEECAP)
SEECAP professional development opportunities address the unique issues of providing leadership to early childhood and early childhood special education programs from general education, special education, state and private preschool, Head Start, Early Head Start and early care and education.

Participation in SEECAP activities is open to aspiring and seasoned administrators and parent or professional leaders from all agencies serving children birth through age five and their families.

Supporting Early Education Delivery Systems (SEEDS) contracted by CDE through Sacramento County Office of Education, SEEDS provides technical assistance to early childhood agencies from their network of consultants and visitation sites. Visitation sites have been identified as demonstrating exemplary practices in early childhood special education.

Technical Training Advisory Collaboration (TTAC) is a group of individuals that are a collaboration of interagency partnerships in California dedicated to delivering quality personnel development activities for children birth-5 with disabilities and other special needs and their families. They have developed and promote core messages for effective training and technical assistance. (TTAC Core Message - PDF).

For more information about these projects please contact:

WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention
Telephone: (916) 492-4011
E-mail: Debbie Pollard at dpollar@wested.org