Provider Services: Program for Infant and Toddler Care

IA PITC
Iowa Program for Infant & Toddler Care

Quality infant care is neither baby-sitting nor preschool. It is a special kind of care that resembles no other and depends on in tune relationships between caregiver and child.
-J. Ronald Lally
www.pitc.org


What is the mission of PITC?

The Program for Infant & Toddler Care seeks to ensure that America's infants get a safe, healthy, emotionally secure and intellectually rich start in life.

What is PITC about?
Good infant care is neither baby-sitting nor preschool.
It is a special kind of care that resembles no other.

The Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) approach equates good care with trained caregivers who are "in-tune" and an environment where infants can learn and explore.

PITC believes infant care should be based on relationship planning -- not lesson planning -- and should emphasize child-directed learning over adult-directed learning.

PITC helps caregivers design environments that ensure safety, offer infants appropriate developmental challenges, and promote optimum health for children.

PITC strengthens the child's developing family and cultural identity by making meaningful connections between child care and the child's family and culture.

Six foundational program policies create a climate for care that reinforces our responsive relationship based approach. Primary care; small groups; continuity; individualized care; cultural responsiveness; and, inclusion of children with special needs.


Module I: Social-Emotional Growth and Socialization
  1. Getting in Tune with Infants and Toddlers
  2. Temperaments
  3. Social Emotional Milestones & Responsive Caregiving
  4. Understanding Children's Behavior
  5. Guidance and Discipline
Module II: Group Care
  1. Routines as Curriculum
  2. Primary Care and Continuity of Care
  3. Environments: Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
  4. Environments: Making PITC Work
  5. Respectful Care
Module III: Learning and Development
  1. Facilitating Early Learning
  2. Discoveries of Infancy
  3. Brain Development in Infancy
  4. Special Needs
  5. Language Development, Communication and Culture
Module IV: Culture, Family, and Providers
  1. Culture, Family and Providers
  2. Harmonizing Cultural Diversity for Sensitive Infant Care
  3. Responding to Families in Culturally Sensitive Ways
  4. Protective Urges
  5. Responsive Family and Community Relationships
Module V: Beginning Together ($50 Stipend Available)
  1. Attitudes, Inclusion and Access
  2. When Concerns Arise
  3. Responsive Planning
  4. Building Relationships to Support All Children
  5. Inclusive Group Care and Individualization

PITC Training

  • Training is FREE!
  • CCR&R is currently training 4 modules, with module 5 to be offered as requested.
  • 5 2-hour lessons make up each module for a total of 10 training hours per module.
  • Upon registration, participants must commit to attending at least one complete module. Participants must register at least 5 business days prior to the training date.
  • Module 1 is the foundation for PITC and CCR&R recommends participants to attend module 1 first.
  • After completing all 4 modules participants will receive 40 training hours that will count towards 2 years of DHS required training. Participants will also receive a completion certificate to frame and display in their child care environment.
  • Participants receive a $250 stipend by completing 19 of 20 lessons within modules 1-4 within a 1 year period.
  • Participants receive a $50 stipend for completing module 5.
  • Take-home education materials are provided as funding allows.
  • CCR&R and PITC welcomes family child care providers, center staff, foster parents, grandparents, college students, nurses, nannies, etc. Anyone who cares for infants and toddlers is invited to attend.
  • Do you need training at your center or organization? PITC can come to you if you can guarantee a minimum of 6 participants.

What are the basics of the PITC philosophy?

PITC is a relationship based curriculum. The goal of PITC is to help caregivers recognize the crucial importance of giving tender, loving care and assisting in the infants' intellectual development through an attentive reading of each child's cues. The PITC videos, guides, and manuals are designed to help child care managers and caregivers become sensitive to infants' cues, connect with their family and culture, and develop responsive, relationship-based care. The training materials provide the foundation for a style of care in which caregivers study the infants in their care, reflect on and record information about the children's interests and skills, and search for ways to set the stage for the child's next learning encounters.

Who will help me incorporate the PITC philosophy?

The Infant and Toddler Specialist is available to provide technical assistance in

  • Setting up ideal infant toddler care environments
  • Appropriate interaction techniques
  • Practical tips and examples of Best Practices
  • Referrals to other early childhood professionals, resources, and services
Call or email the Infant and Toddler Specialist with any questions or concerns at 712-786-3499 or 1-800-859-2025.

Would you be interested in becoming a nationally certified PITC trainer?



Become a PITC Trainer

Benefits include:

  • Earn $105 for each class you teach (20 classes in MOD I-IV = $2100 + 200 bonus for teaching all 20 classes=$2300)
  • Reimbursement for mileage, copies, snacks, supplies
  • CCR&R pays for your tuition and expenses (transportation, hotel, meals, etc.) to train you! CCR&R will send you TWICE to California and/or Maryland to attend a week long institute where you will be trained in 2 of the 4 modules at a time. (over a $3500 value for 1 week, $6000 for 2 weeks)

Who is eligible to apply to become a PITC trainer?

Do any of these currently describe you:

  • Director, program director, resource teacher, site supervisor or educational coordinator employed in an infant/toddler program (includes family childcare business owners) or
  • Independent trainer to family childcare providers and/or infant/toddler caregivers in center-based programs or
  • Staff member of a resource and referral agency that trains family childcare providers and/or infant/toddler caregivers in center-based programs or
  • Teach infant/toddler classes in a community college, state university system, or private college or
  • Provide infant/toddler training in one of the following programs: high school vocational education, parent and teen parent education, migrant infant/toddler, early intervention or special needs
Learn more at: http://www.pitc.org/app/pdf/application_guidelines.pdf

What does CCR&R expect in return?

Because CCR&R invests over $6000 into your education we require that you:

  • Complete lesson plan papers for each module you are trained in to become certified within 3 months of completing each week long institute.
  • Be available to train a series within a year of completing all 4 modules
Call or email the Infant & Toddler Specialist at 712-786-3499 or 1-800-859-2025 if interested in becoming part of our PITC family.

Infant & Toddler Resources

Program for Infant and Toddler Care
Resources for Infant Educarers
Beginning Together (Module V)
Born Learning
Zero to Three
America's Family of Pediatricians
Spaces for Children
Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
10 Things you should know about infant mental health
Children of the Code
Center on the Developing Mind at Harvard University
NAEYC - Summary of "From Neurons to Neighborhoods"
National Infant and Toddler Care Initiative
More Infant & Toddler Links
Quiz: Are you baby smart?

Iowa PITC is a statewide initiative through Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral, funded by Iowa Department of Human Services through infant toddler targeted funds of the Child Care Development Fund.

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