Who’s Who in Early Intervention

Updated September 2016

How long a list of “who’s who” would you like? There are quite a few experts in the early intervention field!

In the interests of efficiency, we will give you the semi-short but to-the-point list to get you started (we apologize to all those organizations we haven’t listed here). This starter list will definitely lead you into the wider network and keep you informed in the ongoing work in early intervention.

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The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA Center).
http://ectacenter.org/
Your premiere choice for early intervention expertise and connection! The ECTA Center (formerly called NECTAC) supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Its mission is to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities (birth through five) and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate, and family-centered supports and services. The center addresses this mission by working primarily with the state agencies responsible for ensuring EI services.

IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association.
http://www.ideainfanttoddler.org/
This association promotes the mutual assistance, cooperation, and exchange of information and ideas in the administration of the IDEA Infant and Toddler Program. It also provides support to the state coordinators. Be sure to check out the Orientation & Resource Manual which has been purposefully designed to help Part C Coordinators, both new and experienced, better understand and implement the early intervention strategies most beneficial to each individual and family.

CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge.
http://community.fpg.unc.edu/
CONNECT offers web-based, instructional resources for faculty and other professional development providers that focus on and respond to challenges faced each day by those working with young children with disabilities and their families. The modules help build practitioners’ abilities to make evidence-based decisions. These practice-based modules are free and include video clips, activities, and handouts.

The IDEA Center for Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy).
http://dasycenter.org/
The Center for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy Center) provides national leadership and technical assistance (TA) to states to support IDEA early intervention and early childhood special education state programs in the development or enhancement of coordinated early childhood longitudinal data systems.

Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children.
http://www.challengingbehavior.org/
TACSEI takes the research that shows which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for, delays or disabilities and creates free products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers, and service providers apply these best practices in the work they do every day.

Research and Training Center (RTC) on Early Childhood Development.
http://www.puckett.org/researchtrainingcenter.php
You’ll find a wealth of information about effective early childhood intervention practices based on research on the RTC’s Web site. Great for sharing with families are the Solutions Practice Guide collections , which are focused especially on how to enrich interactions between parents and baby, make them fun, and support infant learning and development.

Center for Early Education and Development (CEED).
http://www.cehd.umn.edu/ceed/default.html
CEED’s mission is to improve developmental outcomes for children through applied research, policy, and professional development. Useful to Parent Centers are such resources as CEED’s tip sheets on infants and toddlers (e.g., Guidelines for Referral: Red Flags); preschoolers (emphasis on behavioral challenges and warning signs); and early childhood behavior.

Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes
http://ceelo.org/
One of 22 comprehensive centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education,  CEELO works to strengthen the capacity of State Education Agencies (SEAs) to lead sustained improvements in early learning opportunities and outcomes. CEELO works in partnership with SEAs, state and local early childhood leaders, and other federal and national technical assistance (TA) providers to promote innovation and accountability.

The Early Childhood Personnel Center.
http://www.ecpcta.org/
The ECPC serves as a national resource on the professional development of personnel providing early intervention to infants, toddlers, and preschool children with disabilities and their families.

TRACE.
www.tracecenter.info/
TRACE stands for Tracking, Referral and Assessment Center for Excellence. The major goal of TRACE is to identify and promote the use of evidence-based practices and models for improving child find, referral, early identification, and eligibility determination for infants, toddlers, and young children with developmental delays or disabilities who are eligible for early intervention or preschool special education. Lots of great stuff here!

National Professional Development Center on Inclusion.
http://npdci.fpg.unc.edu/
NPDCI works with states to create a system of high-quality, cross-agency, accessible professional development for early childhood personnel. Its mission is to ensure that early childhood teachers are prepared to educate and care for young children with disabilities in settings with their typically developing peers.

Division for Early Childhood (DEC).
www.dec-sped.org/
DEC is especially for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs, birth through age eight, and their families. DEC promotes polices and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. Visit DEC’s publications page to connect with (for-sale but on-point) DEC’s Recommended Practices series.

Early Intervention Family Alliance.
http://www.eifamilyalliance.org/
The EIFA is a national group of family leaders dedicated to improving outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The EIFA works to assure meaningful family involvement in the development of Part C policies and their implementation at community, state and federal levels.