about the project

The Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) promotes responsive, caring relationships for infants and toddlers.

Many families today must depend on child care, but young children need more than just a safe place to be parked while adults go about their daily business. They need caregivers who understand how to nurture children in an emotionally secure and intellectually engaging group setting that helps provide a solid foundation for each child's future development.

Concerned about the critical shortage of such care for infants and toddlers, WestEd, in collaboration with the California Department of Education, created a comprehensive training system, PITC, for both center-based caregivers and family child care providers. A team of experts in child development, child care, adult education, and print and video production was assembled to work with national and state advisors to create PITC. The program's goal is to develop for caregivers and caregiver trainers meaningful training materials that are based on sound theoretical principles and proven practices.

Currently, WestEd's Center for Child and Family Studies is undertaking an evaluation of the PITC program.