Common use of Training and Technical Assistance Clause in Contracts

Training and Technical Assistance. The signatory agencies of the Local Interagency Agreement have long been committed to collaborative methods of training. To this end, trainings have been provided in the community for all EI participants in a wide variety of settings on a wide variety of topics. Wherever possible, information has been shared across agencies and efforts made to include parents and outside agency staff. CMSU and CSIU agencies solicit input from service providers in order to develop community-training plans. Additionally, training topics are related to newly developing community trends or needs. Input from the LICC is solicited in the development of annual training plans. The undersigned agencies, in collaboration, will continue to assist and encourage parents and families in accessing training opportunities. Wherever possible, trainings are offered at no cost to participants. All families receiving early intervention services are notified of local ICC training programs. On-site childcare is typically available and assistance with transportation can be arranged. Multiple training sites throughout the four county areas are used. Local families are encouraged to attend any appropriate state meetings and a budget category has been established to assist with expenses. Where families are eligible through other funding streams, there is a commitment to access those funds to provide additional training dollars. Partner agencies will bring all training opportunities to meetings in order that the information can be shared with other agencies. Each agency will, in turn, share training opportunities with parents. Whenever possible, and with family permission, agency staff will attempt to assist parents who are attending a conference to coordinate with other parents or agency staff who may be attending the same conference. Of real value to our community has been the commitment of our families to assist our staff in understanding the challenges families face on a daily basis. Parent volunteers have presented panel discussions on a wide variety of topics and will continue to share their expertise with the community in a variety of ways including the sharing of issues at in-service programs for both CSIU and CMSU. Please refer to the attached work plan.