View The State Profile For West Virginia

Summary of West Virginia's Work as Part of the Initiative (2003-2004):
West Virginia has worked on developing an agenda to guide public policy over the next few years. The agenda was developed through the infant/toddler team but also included additional people that were important to include in moving an early childhood care and education agenda forward. In addition, through State dollars, they revised and added to their infant/toddler curriculum (One Step at a Time Infant and Toddler Training Program). West Virginia also explored adding Infant/Toddler Specialists to the system.

West Virginia's Child Care and Development Fund Quality Infant/Toddler Earmark:

FY 2006: The Federal CCDF Quality Infant and Toddler Earmark is $670,312.

The funds are used in the following ways to enhance the West Virginia infant and toddler child care system (additional funds may be used to support these activities):

• One Step at a Time Infant and Toddler Training Program which has been redesigned, including a restructuring (as of July 2004) of the $400 stipends associated with the training program (current policy pays $200 to the participant's center to support his/her attendance and $200 to the participant upon completion of the program and six months of continued infant/toddler care).
• Infant/Toddler Specialists
• Efforts to develop and implment a system of opportunity for quality improvement through the use of ITERS/FDCRS.
• Resources and materials for CCR&Rs to distribute to participants of One Step at a Time Infant and Toddler Caregiver Training Program, and loan to infant/toddler care providers through the Traveling Resources and Information Library System (TRAILS).
• Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers® Training (there are also plans for similar professional development events to be held in 2006)
• Infant/Toddler Earmark Activities Coordinator, a new state-level position.

FY 2004: The Federal CCDF Quality Infant and Toddler Earmark was $668,966.

The funds were used in the following ways to enhance the West Virginia infant and toddler child care system (additional funds may have been used to support these activities):

• One Step at a Time Infant and Toddler Training Program
• Stipends of $200 to providers/child care center staff upon completion of “One Step at a Time” training and six months of caring for infants and toddlers. Additionally, child care centers may receive $200 to support implementation of coursework.
• Resources for distribution as a part of the “One Step at a Time Infant and Toddler Caregiver Class” to support providers in implementing the program.