Infant & Toddler
Connection of Virginia
UPDATE
May 2022

TRAC-IT Update: May 2022
 
Progress continues to be made toward the June 27th launch of TRAC-IT! We’re excited, and we hope you are, too!
 
  • TRAC-IT trainings have been scheduled! You’ll find the dates and registration links for all upcoming trainings on our website calendar.
 
  • All users are encouraged to register for and attend one of the Overview of TRAC-IT sessions offered during the week of June 6-10. (The content of these sessions will be repeated; you’ll only need to attend one of the overview sessions. And at least one overview session will be recorded and available online for those unable to participate.)
 
  • Users are also encouraged to register for and attend one or more of the targeted training sessions being offered specifically for administrators, service providers, service coordinators, and fiscal.
 
  • EHR/EMR upload testing and user acceptance testing (UAT) will both be underway in a matter of days, representing major steps toward refining the TRAC-IT interface and application.
 
  • Be sure to visit (and bookmark) the TRAC-IT info page on the ITCVA website. Here you’ll find updates and resources related to TRAC-IT preparation and implementation.
 
We understand and appreciate that many people are contributing a great deal of time and expertise to bringing this years-long dream to reality. Thank you for your efforts! The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight!
Important EI Certification News
In preparation for the transition from ITOTS to TRAC-IT, it will be important to plan ahead if you need to apply for recertification or are hiring someone who is applying for initial certification.
  • The last day to apply for EI certification or recertification in ITOTS will be June 10th.
  • After that, you will need to wait and apply for certification or recertification in TRAC-IT beginning June 27. 
  • Certification and recertification applications submitted in TRAC-IT on or before July 15, that then are approved/granted, automatically will have a certification date of June 11, 2022.
Annual Early Intervention Family Survey
Help us to improve Virginia’s Part C early intervention system by encouraging families to share information about their experience!
Family Survey Update

April 7, 2022
The first wave of the survey went out and ODU staff are getting ready for the second wave. 1,000+ completed surveys between mail and the web. We’ll also be sending out at least one more round of email reminders in addition to the wave 2 mailing.

April 26, 2022
Wave 2 has gone out. ODU has begun to receive the first Wave 2 mail completes and continue to get completes from the web survey. An additional reminder email was sent out last week. 

Calls begin to localities with less than 15 completes - 5/14-5/21
SUPPORTING POSITIVE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS
SSIP Update
The SSIP Workgroup began meeting in March. The group is addressing the first two Broad Improvement Strategies:
  • Identify and implement initial and ongoing eligibility determination and assessment for service planning practices related to social-emotional development that effectively inform eligibility decisions, the child outcome summary process, IFSP development and service delivery.
  • Identify and implement evidence-based service delivery practices to promote positive social-emotional development for all eligible infants and toddlers and provide effective intervention to address delays and concerns.
We are in the process of determining what is currently happening across the state regarding social emotional screening, social emotional assessment and implementation of the National Pyramid Model.

Notes from the first two meetings are posted on the Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia Website under About ITCVA/SSIP (https://www.itcva.online/ssip).
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES

Thanks to the VEIPD team for working with Deana Buck to post a short video about the CDC’s process for updating the LTSAE’s developmental milestones. The video can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaVIqpMA4xg. If you have questions about the revised milestones, please contact Deana directly at deanabuck@gmail.com.

Each of the new developmental milestone checklists includes an expanded section of ideas of activities for families to enjoy that help a child learn and grow. To check out the whole series of checklists (for children from 2 months – 5 years), please visit https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/pdf/FULL-LIST-CDC_LTSAE-Checklists2021_Eng_FNL2_508.pdf

A Unique Opportunity for Families
Virginia’s Act Early Team has been meeting regularly for the past two years to improve early identification. This year, we are piloting a resilience project and need your help. If you have connections with providers working with culturally & linguistically diverse families of children under the age of 5 who are currently being screened for developmental concerns or delays OR who have just received a diagnosis of a developmental delay or special health care need and are receiving EI or early childhood education supports, please share the attached fliers. We are particularly interested in the experiences of parents identifying as Black, African American and Latino/a/x. We can also support Arabic, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Participating families will complete a pre-assessment of their resiliency skills, receive parent to parent support from a cultural broker with a similar cultural background, and complete a post-assessment to see if the parent support they received enhanced their resiliency skills. Each family will receive up to $100 for their participation. If you have any questions about the study, please contact Dana Yarbrough at dvyarbrough@vcu.edu
If you have any questions about the “Learn the Signs. Act Early” resources, please contact Deana Buck, Virginia’s Act Early Ambassador, at deanabuck@gmail.com
or by phone at (804) 405-9064
The Virginia EHDI program wants to inform you about two program initiatives that may interest families that you serve. 
If you have any questions please contact us at va_ehdi@vdh.virginia.gov
American Sign Language classes- This program will offer free sign language classes for up to 30 minutes each week for 8 weeks and is for families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and within the ages of 0- 3 years of age. Please see and share attached flyer and have interested families contact us at va_ehdi@vdh.virginia.gov.
iPads for Communication and Language Development- The Virginia EHDI program has the opportunity to provide FREE iPads to families who have children who are deaf or hard of hearing to support communication options, literacy and language development and a virtual connection between parents and providers. If you know a family that can benefit from an iPad to support the options below, please see and share the attached flyer and have them contact us at va_ehdi@vdh.virginia.gov.

DID YOU MISS THE VEIPD UPDATE?

INFANT & TODDLER CONNECTION OF VIRGINIA
Looking for the most up-to-date version of the Part C Practice Manual...upcoming meeting dates...or even a new career opportunity? You'll find plenty of helpful information on the Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia's early intervention website! Be sure to visit and bookmark itcva.online!
MEDICAID ENROLLMENTS

If you have questions about enrollments for children with Medicaid please contact Keisha White at keisha.white@dbhds.virginia.gov.
EARLY INTERVENTION CERTIFICATION
For questions about certification of practitioners, contact David Mills • 804-317-7776
For questions related to completing the online application, contact DBHDS Production Support@cov.virginia.gov 
Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia is part of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
1220 Bank Street, 9th Floor, P.O. Box 1797, Richmond, Virginia 23219-1797
Main Office: (804) 786-3710 • Main Fax: (804) 371-7959
1220 Bank Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 664-2462