Training Program for Infant and Toddler Caregivers: An Evaluation of the Effects on Quality of Care
Abstract
Caregiver training has been shown to impact the quality of care for infants and toddlers in "out- of- home" settings. This thesis evaluated the effect of a 2 year program implemented at five urban child care centers (17 classrooms). In order to participate in the program, child care centers had to be licensed and had to serve a majority of children living in poverty. Five infant and toddler early care and education experts were selected to provide training and technical assistance to each of the participating sites. Training consisted of a combination of workshops and reflective supervision. The lnfant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS) was used as both a pre-test and a post-test to evaluate the effectiveness of the training program. Results showed a significant increase in the quality of care as measured by the ITERS rating scale.