Program for Infant/Toddler Care
about the project
The Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC), developed collaboratively by WestEd and the California Department of Education, is a comprehensive training system that promotes responsive, caring relationships for infants and toddlers.
Its centerpiece is a series of broadcast quality videos/DVDs in English, Spanish, and Chinese (Cantonese), with accompanying video magazines, guides, and trainer's manuals available in both English and Spanish. The materials are organized into four training modules, based on the latest research and practice.
PITC worked with the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families to develop the Early Head Start program, and has presented training institutes and technical assistance for programs serving families with children from birth to three.
In 2002, the National Center for Children in Poverty selected PITC as a model initiative to support infants, toddlers, and their families.
The Center for Child & Family Studies completed the field-test version of a new home visiting curriculum, and has helped strengthen struggling community-based agencies so they, in turn, can better support families.
Listen to a radio interview with Peter Mangione, Co-Director of PITC, discussing child temperament and providing quality child care.
The following describes related projects of PITC.
PITC Training Institutes
These two-week double-module training institutes help trainers to:
- incorporate PITC video and print materials in their work with care providers;
- deepen their knowledge of infant/toddler care and development; and
- learn training strategies to meet the needs of adult learners.
PITC Partners for Quality
Partners for Quality, funded by the California Department of Education, supports family child care and center-based infant/toddler programs throughout every region in California. Partners for Quality staff provide training and technical assistance, implement outreach activities, and work with the PITC Demonstration Programs.
Beginning Together
Funded by the California Department of Education, Beginning Together serves as Module V of the PITC training system, ensuring that the certified trainers in WestEd's Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) have the information and understanding they need to promote quality inclusive practices for children with special needs.
PITC Approach to Home Visiting
The Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) prepares home visitors to support parents in ensuring that their infants get a safe, healthy, emotionally secure and intellectually rich start in life. The PITC approach to home visiting integrates best practices in home visiting with the latest knowledge in child development.
"Our caregivers were good, but PITC has taken them over the top."
-Joel Gordon, Director, PITC Model Program, Santa Rosa Junior College