Birth-to-Three Quality Initiative (B-3QI)
The Birth-to-Three Quality Initiative (B-3QI) was established to improve the quality and availability of care for children ages birth to three in North Carolina through forging collaborative partnerships with teachers and directors.
In 2004, North Carolina established the Statewide Infant Toddler Quality Enhancement Project (ITQEP) with funding from the NC Division of Child Development. The goal of the project was to improve the quality and availability of care for children aged birth to three in North Carolina by supporting Early Care and Education Centers through coaching, mentoring, and training. In August 2022, the project became the Birth-to-Three Quality Initiative.
The project team includes Birth-to-Three Specialists (B-3S) housed in Regional Lead CCR&R agencies throughout the state and a project management team employed by Early Years .
The B-3QI serves all 100 counties across the state, and Regional Birth-to-Three Specialists provide leadership, coaching, training and hands-on support for teachers and site administrators. A team of Anchor Birth-to-Three Specialists provides virtual cohort-based learning collaboratives for birth-to-three teachers and administrators across the state. The project is rigorously monitored to ensure consistency, equitability and quality of services delivered across the state, and its impact is evaluated by several measurable outcomes.
The NC Birth-to-Three Quality Initiative is managed by Early Years.
