Infant & Toddler

Connection of Virginia

December 2022 Update

TRAC-IT NEED TO KNOWS

An IFSP Webinar on the policy/practice side of completing IFSPs in TRAC-IT was held on December 1, 2022. Over 150 TRAC-IT users participated live. Please watch for the recording and tip sheet to be posted soon on our website. Topics included what’s new and what’s different for routines, outcome statements, service coordination goals, addendum, assigning service coordinators, declining services, and transition. April Birchfield, local system manager for Central Virginia shared tips from a local system perspective on incorporating TRAC-IT into the IFSP process.

The latest TRAC-IT webinar:

TRAC-IT EHR/EMR Demo | VIMEO

Have you ever wondered what happens to your TRAC-IT feedback and suggestions?

DBHDS and SSG listens and appreciates your input! Here is the latest list of enhancements based on your recommendations.

TRAC-IT Issues and Enhancements Tracker | XLSX — UPDATED 2022-11-15

TRAC-IT SUPPORT:

• EMAIL: VATRACITsupport@ssg-llc.com
• PHONE: (804) 508-7229

State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance Report (APR)

Each state must submit to the U.S. Department of Education a State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) that specifies our annual performance on a set of federally required indicators. The next SPP/APR is due to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) on February 1, 2023. A draft of this year’s report will be available by mid-December for your review in the “About ITCVA” section of our website, www.itcva.online, under Public Reporting. The SPP/APR data will be discussed with the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council prior to posting it, and we will be accepting any additional written comments through December 31, 2022. Please submit any comments you have on the SPP/APR to Richard Corbett at richard.corbett@dbhds.virginia.gov.  

Dispute Resolution with the Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia

The Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia has added a new section on our website for dispute resolution.

Virginia offers three (3) methods for resolving disputes, all of which are available at no cost to families: mediation, impartial due process hearings, and administrative complaints. To learn more about dispute resolution with the Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia, visit our website at https://www.itcva.online/ . You can find dispute resolution information under “for families” and in our resource library (Chapter 10 of the Practice Manual and Procedural Safeguards Documents).

RETIREMENT CELEBRATIONS

After missing working directly with children and families, Mary Anne went back to what she loved and became the Early Childhood Manager of the Crater District. While at Crater, she served as the Local System Manager for ITC Crater and oversaw the Healthy Families Program.

Outside of work, Mary Anne is an avid bike rider and shared stories of her trips throughout the country. We wish Mary Anne all the best in her retirement and thank her for her commitment to the infants, toddlers and families in Virginia! She will be missed in Early Intervention!

Carol has earned the respect of all who have had the pleasure of working with her in Rockbridge and throughout the state. Her local system manager colleagues echo one another when they talk about being new to early intervention and how Carol took the time to share her knowledge and experience with them as they learned the ropes. 

Carol has the ability to see things from many angles and always keeps the family at the center while working through a scenario to determine how best to serve them. She continuously learns about all aspects of early intervention and is a wealth of knowledge. 

Carol participated on numerous committees, workgroups, and taskforces over the years never shying away from learning more and contributing to the field. 

Carol is a thoughtful leader whose contributions cannot be measured. She will be missed by her colleagues, her families, her TA and Monitor, and all who know her. We wish Carol the very best as she transitions to retired life. Godspeed, Carol!

SUPPORTING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS

State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP)

As we wrap up our first year implementing our new SSIP, focused on positive social-emotional skills and social relationships, we have a number of accomplishments to celebrate:

• We provided at least 10 new professional development activities designed to ensure all practitioners know they have a role in supporting positive social-emotional development and a nurturing caregiver-child relationship and have the training and tools to do that;
• We launched a new statewide data system, TRAC-IT, that will provide the data and analysis necessary to more fully understand our child outcome results and identify targeted improvement strategies;
• Implemented new strategies to attract a more diverse pool of Infant Mental Health endorsement candidates; and
• Established a workgroup that is researching social-emotional screening and assessment tools.

The State Leadership Team met in November to review specific progress on each SSIP activity and evaluate whether revisions to the plan are needed. The leadership team determined that we are on a good course and should continue with planned activities. Timelines will be adjusted to reflect the fact that some work was paused this year in order to focus at the state and local level on preparing for and implementing TRAC-IT. State Leadership Team meeting notes are posted on our website.

Response Strategies When Families Share Hard Things

Early interventionists often work with families and young children experiencing trauma. When families share something upsetting or surprising, early interventionists can be unsure about how to respond. Response Strategies When Families Share Hard Things, developed by the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI), provides in-the-moment response strategies to use when families share difficult or traumatic experiences.

Source: https://challengingbehavior.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Response_Strategies_Families_Share_Hard_Things.pdf

PROFFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A GEM YOU MIGHT

HAVE FORGOTTEN

Age Expected Snapshots

WHAT DID

YOU MISS?

Welcome Lorelei Pisha

to the VEIPD team!

Equity in EI: Looking Inward resource handout

WHAT'S COMING

UP NEXT?

Save the date for the next Talks on Tuesday on Self-Care:

February 7, 2023



EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Local early intervention system managers (LSMs) or their designees, or directors of programs that contract with one or more local early intervention systems in Virginia, are invited to submit employment opportunities for posting.

• ITC Blue Ridge | Early Intervention Case Manager-Bilingual | Posted 2022-10-21 | LINK
• ITC Crater District | EI Program Manager | Posted 2022-10-19 | LINK
• ITC Loudoun County | EI Program Manager: Assessment Services |Posted 2022-09-07 | LINK