6/27/2013
Dear EI Training Program Newsletter Subscribers,
As many of you know, funding for the Illinois Early Intervention Training Program has been awarded to the University of Illinois in Champaign beginning July 1st. The Illinois Early Intervention Training Program will end its eleven successful years at UCP of Greater Chicago (UCP) on June 30, 2013. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your contributions to the success of the Early Intervention Training Program over the past decade. Through the hard work and passion of our employees along with the many equally passionate and hard working consultants, we've had a positive impact on the field of early intervention.
Beginning July 1, 2013, the Early Intervention Training Program at the University of Illinois will take the reigns from UCP with the mission to build upon the achievements of the highly successful current Illinois Early Intervention Training Program and develop a system that is regionalized, responsive and reflective of best practice in the field of early intervention. Through a comprehensive system of personnel development, the Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) at the University of Illinois will provide pre-service and in-service training for service coordinators and providers supporting children in the Illinois Early Intervention System. This comprehensive system of personnel development will support and ensure the Illinois Department of Human Services goal to improve the quality of services and supports offered to infants, toddlers and their families in early intervention through an effective network of early intervention personnel.
Dr. Amy Santos, Dr. Michaelene Ostrosky and Dr. Tweety Yates are the Principal Investigators from the University of Illinois who will be responsible for ensuring the activities of the EITP are carried out. Yesterday, I accepted a position at the University to continue as Director of EITP and Susan Connor has accepted a position to become Assistant Director beginning July 1, 2013. There will be many familiar faces on the training team moving forward as well as some new faces. We all look forward to providing a variety of highly effective professional development opportunities for the early intervention professionals in Illinois.
During the transition to the University, please visit our website www.illinoiseitraining.org for updates. This web address will continue to be the EITP address even after July 1st. Any changes related to the transition (phone numbers, mailing address etc..) will be posted on the website www.illinoiseitraining.org beginning July 1, 2013.
As we close one door and open another, I strongly believe that the University of Illinois is uniquely qualified to continue the high level of support that our field has come to expect. I know that with its strong commitment to excellence in research, teaching and public engagement, the University of Illinois has the expertise, resources, and supports for the Training Program to reach heights many of us have only imagined.
I look forward to what this new chapter in the Early Intervention Training Program will bring and thank all of you for the passion and commitment to the families you work with that has helped us achieve so much success the past eleven years!
Ted Burke
Director
Illinois Early Intervention Training Program
tburke@illinoiseitraining.org
