Relationship Based Professional Development Technical Assistance
"Research indicates that brain development during the first years of life depends on the child's environmental experience...The primary reason for providing on-site technical assistance to a child care program is to protect children and promote their development."
"Knowledge into Practice" (NACCRRA, 2007)
There are a variety of definitions in the field describing technical assistance, including coaching, mentoring and consultation.
According to the University of Kentucky (2008) technical assistance is defined as "a collaborative, relationship-based model of assistance and support designed to: identify, select, or design evidence-based solutions to address problems, needs or goals; adopt or adapt knowledge to practice; and effectively implement solutions customized to meet the needs of clients."
NACCRR defines on-site technical assistance as "an intentional process that uses various strategies over time to improve the quality of a child care program or caregiver practices through visits to child care programs. It may include observation, assessments, such as conducting a rating scale, support or monitoring. Examples of support include helping to develop a quality improvement plan, modeling appropriate practice, etc." (NACCRRA, 2007).
A quality support system for early childhood services include technical assistance because this would allow "local providers to have access to a wide variety of consultation and support personnel" (Gallagher & Clifford, 2000).
In order for technical assistance to be productive it needs to be "based on principles of planned change, organizational development, and consultation and not on adult learning theory alone" (Wesley and Buysse, 1996). They continue:
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"Catalysts for change are most productive when they are perceived as co-equals by those they hope to influence.
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The technical assistance system's approach must be ecological and its services varied to meet the expectations of diverse clients involved in complex transactions.
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Technical assistance activities should promote local control and capacity building though broad community involvement.
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The technical assistance system must be prepared to offer not only technical expertise, but also to respect and occasionally challenge the values, beliefs, and leverage potential of local stakeholders.
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Technical assistances should invite collaboration with researchers to test theories and develop new models."
There are certain characteristics that the recipient of technical assistance should have in order to ensure effective and useful technical assistance such as:
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A basic knowledge base of the topic
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The capability to demonstrate abilities in a natural work environment.
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The ability to show what was learned
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The capability to reproduce and model the necessary skills demonstrated by the technical assistance providers (University of Kentucky, 2008).
There are also characteristics of an effective technical assistance provider that should be in place. Competent technical assistance providers must be able to:
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Establish and maintain a supportive, positive, and trusting relationships with the recipient;
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Have current content knowledge based on research and evidence-based practices
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Effectively implement technical assistance practices (University of Kentucky, 2008).
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Low - Information relayed is related to a specific need to expand knowledge; provide access to other local resources and support systems; and is most often provided using an off-site approach.
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Medium - Assistance is provided through repeated contact with the staff and program; an action strategy is developed that includes a shared responsibility for outcomes; and is most often provided using on-site and off-site approaches.
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High - Recurring and enduring assistance; uses specific models of support (e.g. coaching, mentoring); and is most often provided using an on-site approach.
The Minnesota Center for Professional Development has adopted a set of Core Competencies for Effective Technical Assistance. In effective technical assistance, the knowledge and skill of the person delivering the assistance is extremely important. The ability to apply their knowledge to address the client's needs relies upon good communication skills.
