Funding Offers Training for Early Intervention to Child Care Providers in Northeast Indiana

Free Training for Child Care Providers in Northeast Indiana to Address Developmental Needs in Young Children

In a proactive response to the heightened developmental and behavioral challenges facing young children since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, child care providers in northeast Indiana are being offered complimentary training to better support early intervention strategies. The initiative is spearheaded by the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition, which recently secured a substantial 7,000 grant from the AWS Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for individuals with disabilities.

The training program is designed to equip child care professionals with essential skills in managing stress, understanding emotional outbursts in young children, and comprehending the ways in which children process information. This educational initiative comes at a critical time, as statistics reveal that approximately 67% of children under the age of three in Indiana do not receive necessary screenings for developmental delays, a figure that falls below the national average.

Allie Sutherland, the executive director of the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition, emphasizes the importance of early screening and intervention. “Children just aren’t receiving the developmental screenings that they should be early,” Sutherland remarked. “This is the time where prevention and intervention are most impactful in these early years—zero to five—because of the rapid brain development that occurs.”

Research consistently indicates that early interventions are not only more effective but also more cost-efficient, providing long-term benefits for children and their families. The training aims to arm child care providers with the tools necessary to address various behaviors observed in children post-pandemic, ultimately fostering a more supportive and understanding environment for the child’s development.

The coalition is further enhancing this professional development initiative by collaborating with pediatric therapists who will offer guidance and coaching to educators within their classrooms. This multifaceted approach seeks to ensure that providers have access to specialized support as they cultivate their early intervention skills.

The next training session is scheduled for November 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the AWS Foundation in Fort Wayne. This opportunity represents a significant step towards better equipping child care providers with the knowledge and resources they need to effectively support the developmental needs of young children in their care.

For further inquiries or to participate in the training, interested individuals can contact Timoria, the labor and employment reporter, via email at tcunningham@wfyi.org.

This initiative underlines the critical intersection of health, education, and advocacy in fostering a supportive environment for young children in Indiana, particularly in a post-pandemic landscape.