Training & Technical Assistance

The Early Start service system was implemented in 1993 under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to enhance and coordinate quality early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers (birth – three years of age) and their families in California. The delivery of quality early intervention services envisioned by Part C of IDEA requires that personnel are qualified and appropriately trained to provide those services to eligible infants and toddlers and their families.

The Department of Developmental Services’ (DDS) Early Start Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) provides the framework for coordinating the delivery of personnel development activities throughout California. DDS contracts with the WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention to facilitate the implementation of CSPD projects.

The California Early Intervention Technical Assistance Network (CEITAN) provides online training for early intervention service coordinators, service providers, specialists, administrators, and other early intervention personnel. Early Start Online Training includes:

Foundations Series
Skill Base Series

Early Start Foundations and Skill Builders have been designed to provide service providers and service coordinators with an early intervention curriculum which addresses the many requirements and needs considered critical for the delivery of appropriate early intervention services.

For registration information go to: WestEd Online Registration

The following CSPD projects are collaborative efforts of DDS and interagency community partners.

Supporting Early Education Delivery Systems (SEEDS) contracted by CDE through Sacramento County Office of Education, SEEDS provides technical assistance to early childhood agencies from their network of consultants and visitation sites. Visitation sites have been identified as demonstrating exemplary practices in early childhood special education.

Training and Technical Assistance Collaborater (TTAC) is a group of individuals that are a collaboration of interagency partnerships in California dedicated to delivering quality personnel development activities for children birth-5 with disabilities and other special needs and their families. They have developed and promoted core messages PDF for effective training and technical assistance.