Beginning in December 2020, the Division of Child Care launched a series of Training of Trainers (TOTs) specifically focused on supporting children with special needs in early childhood environments.  There will be three TOTs offered each year through 2023, all focusing on topics related to families and children with special needs, and these TOTs will be available to Kentucky credentialed trainers at no cost. The Division of Child Care’s goal in this initiative is to make sure that high quality trainings on these much needed, specific topics are integrated into local training organizations and curriculum throughout the state. 

During the first calendar year of this project, which elapses 2020 and 2021, the topics will focus on:

• Supporting children who experience anxiety (assists providers in identifying symptoms and behaviors, and to learn strategies for success in the classroom and at home)
• Early Intervention (strategies to help providers identify atypical behaviors based on age and external factors, and resources for families when there are concerns)
• Communicating with and Supporting Families of Children with Special Needs (how to build and support relationships between families and providers during all stages of identification and diagnosis, and continually meeting the needs of the child)
• An Introduction to Autism (assist providers in a basic understanding of the presentation of autism and classroom strategies for an inclusive classroom, along with resources for providers and families)

These trainings will be level 1 or level 2 trainings in order to help the majority of the child care providers in the state understand children with atypical needs. Keep an eye out for available times and dates for these upcoming sessions through the Trainer’s Credential Listserv. If you need to update your email address or are not currently receiving these emails, please contact trainers-credential-l@lsv.uky.edu.These sessions will fill up quickly, so be sure to get on the Listserv to be the first to know when the session information is released!