Illinois Trainers Network

The Illinois Trainers Network (ITN) has over 150 specialized trainers who have each made a long-term investment in improving professional development for early care and education and school-age professionals.

ITN provides opportunities for early care and school-age practitioners and educators to pursue professional development through high quality and accessible trainings. All legally operating early child care and education and school-age programs in Illinois have access to ITN services. ITN trainings are scheduled through your local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) system.

To find more information on ITN trainings or to locate trainings in your area, please contact your local CCR&R.

ITN Curricula Trainings

Creative Curriculum for Family Child Care: is a 15 hour training that provides a practical approach to planning for a home setting and for encouraging individual development in a mixed age group.
Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers, Twos: is a 15 hour training on how to develop a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate curriculum for children 0–3 years of age. Included in the training is an overview of the assessment process designed to capture the development of children 0–3 at four points during the calendar year. The assessment process includes developmental goals and objectives for children's learning in all areas of development.
Creative Curriculum for Preschool: is a 15 hour training that provides a practical approach to planning for a learning environment that encourages individual development for preschool-aged children. It also encourages development of children’s skill areas through block play, art, music and movement, cooking, computers, literature, and sensory play.
Early Childhood Developmental Screening: an eight hour training that introduces the basics of conducting a developmental screening and making appropriate referrals to access services appropriate to children’s needs.
Foundations of Family Child Care: is a 15 hour training that is great for newer or potential family child care providers to learn about licensing, setting up as a business, parent communication, health and safety, nutrition, discipline, and developmental activities.
Illinois Early Learning Standards: is a six hour training that gives child care practitioners an overview of the program standards for children ages 3 to 5. Practitioners are taught how to connect the standards with daily classroom practice. Through discussion and small group activities, practitioners will learn how to look at their classrooms and evaluate how the early learning standards are being met.
An Introduction to the Environment Rating Scales (ERS): is a four hour training for all child care providers. After completion of this training, child care practitioners will have knowledge of the ERS; be able to use tool(s) for self-assessment of program(s) and/or hire a consultant to use tool(s) for assessment; be able to use ERS results to plan program improvements; be aware of ERS linkages to national accreditation processes, Illinois Early Learning Standards (IELS) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Quality Rating System (QRS).
· An Introduction to the Family Child Care Rating Scale: is a four hour training for Family Child Care providers. After completion of this training, child care practitioners will have knowledge of the ERS; be able to use tool(s) for self-assessment of program(s) and/or hire a consultant to use tool(s) for assessment; be able to use ERS results to plan program improvements; be aware of ERS linkages to national accreditation processes, IELS and the IDHS QRS.
Level 1 ECE Credential Training: this 48 hour training is designed to introduce you to general child development, health and safety, school-age care, observation, environments for children, and the importance of relationships with children and their families. In this hands-on, practical training you will meet others who are new to the early childhood field or are considering a career working with children. Learn more about the Level 1 ECE Credential at here. For more information on each module, please see Level 1 ECE Module Descriptions.
Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC): this 32 hour training is designed to help child care directors and infant/toddler care teachers become sensitive to infants' cues, connect with their family and culture, and develop responsive, relationship-based care. This training takes an in-depth look at cognitive and social-emotional development, encouraging growth within daily routines and tips on setting up appropriate environments for experienced infant and toddler professionals.
Second Helping: is a 32 hour enrichment course for experienced family child care providers that includes: training in interpersonal communications, business management, marketing, time management skills, client relationships, and the role of the provider in the formation and safeguarding of children's self-esteem.
SpecialCare Inclusion Training: provides information on caring for children with special needs in typical child care settings. The training helps increase the knowledge and comfort level of participants to enhance their ability to care for children with special needs/disabilities. Training Hours available: 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5 and 8.

ITN Specialty Trainings

National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation Assistance: includes an accredited NAFCC observer coming to family child care homes and helping with any of the following: accreditation information, mock observations, and actual observations. Accreditation information is a two-hour information session given to a group of interested family child care providers. A mock observation is when a NAFCC observer will explain the difference between personal definitions of quality and NAFCC’s standards.

For information contact:

Family Child Care Accreditation NAFCC Foundation
5202 Pinemont Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84123

Phone: (801) 269-9338
Web site www.nafcc.org