The Infant /Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN), funded by the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development  (DHS/DFD), assists educators of very young children in providing the very best care for infants and toddlers.

​The New Jersey Infant/Toddler Specialist Network has two predominant goals:

1.  To improve the quality of Infant/Toddler early care across the state;

2.  To increase the availability of quality early care programs for families with infants and toddlers.

Scroll below for more information how to register your center or home-based program to get into the ITS Network. Act now to get support through a coaching and mentoring relationship with your ITS.

SO...WHO BENEFITS FROM AN INFANT/TODDLER SPECIALIST?​
​Family Child Care

• Mixed-age groups can promote infant and toddler growth and development
• Help to create a unique space for infants and toddlers to safely explore and learn
• Coaching, consultation, trainings, and technical assistance
• Review health and safety standards
• Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-3 support
• Guiding behaviors
• Introduce you to the NJ Birth to Three Early Learning Standards
• FCC Program Organization & Business Practices
• Supporting inclusive/Dual Language Learner practices

Licensed Child Care Programs

• Don't forget: 2.5-year-olds are still toddlers
• Coaching, consultation, trainings, and technical assistance matched to your needs
• NJ Birth to Three Early Learning Standards
• Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale-3 (ITERS-3) support
• Guiding behaviors
• Supporting inclusive/Dual Language Learner practices

Grow NJ Kids participants

• Provide additional supports and technical assistance (TA) specifically for I/T classrooms
• More than just ITERS-3 support
• Based on ITERS-3 results, we can can provide trainings and TA
• Collaborating on next steps

Connects you to the Agency's Family Engagement Specialist (FES)

• Books, Balls, & Blocks support in I/T areas
• Community resources for families
• Ages & Stages Questionnaire -3 support for child screenings in your non-Grow NJ Kids program

Endless possibilities...

• Works with community partnerships
• Advocacy for early care and 
• Training supports for:
  • The Growing Brain
  • Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC)
  • Inclusive practices
  • Supporting Dual Language Learners/Cultural Responsive Care
  • Promote reflections using LearnERS as a resource to promote Center Quality Improvement
• Connect to your "why" to create "ah-ha" moments

Brand new in May...FCCs and center programs serving infants and toddlers can now use their NJCCIS portal to enroll in the ITSN services:

1. Open your QuickLinks;
2. Click Quality Initiatives and look for Infant/Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN) button;
3. Click to open;
4. Then complete the ITSN Enrollment, Agreement and Questionnaire to enroll your program to get ITSN coaching and mentoring services.
5. Or, you can connect directly with your county's ITS to help you navigate the new portal =)

Have a quick question...? Connect directly with your county's ITS, just call or click the county button to leave an email message.

Ingrid for atlantic

Paula

cheryl

Christina

OUR TRAINING DIVISION (LEAD/ASSISTANT TRAINERS AND INFANT/TODDLER SPECIALISTS) WILL BRING OUR CURRENT EVENING/CDA AND ITSN TRAININGS TO YOU ONLINE. WE WILL BE SUSPENDING SCHEDULED FACE-TO-FACE TRAINING  INDEFINITELY...HOWEVER...
WE HAVE GONE VIRTUAL!
The Infant/Toddler Specialists are presenting your training via a live webinar format using Zoom;
PLEASE REGISTER ON NJCCIS ONCE YOU REVIEW THE  SCHEDULE.
 
PLEASE FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS TO ACCESS THE LINKS VIA YOUR COMPUTER, TABLET, OR SMART PHONE. ​
If you can't find the training using the online option below, you can use Rutgers Southern Regional CCR&R to search for the online classes with the provided dates and times below.

Earn your NJ Infant/Toddler Credential!
​Visit www.pccc.edu 

Great news...
​
Teaching Strategies is offering free, self-paced, web-based professional development.

See the schedule below for more details. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity!

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Great resources and information...

Daily positive daily interactions matter. Watch the Harvard Center on the Developing Child's "How-to: 5 steps for brain-building "Serve and Return" videos to support children and families.
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serve & return videos

Try it! Early Math in the Home: ZeroToThree