Increase Capacity:
Expand the number of available slots for families with children aged 6 weeks to 36 months.
Enhance Quality:
Improve care through quality teacher-child interactions, overall program improvements specific to infants and toddlers, safe & appropriate materials and enhanced learning environments.
Professional Support:
Coaching and technical assistance.
Financial Resources:
Grants for classroom materials, family engagement activities, stipends (professional development and coaching).and reimbursement for training costs.
HITI Participation Requirements:
- Must have a current School Readiness contract with the ELCHC.
- Must be licensed for infants, ones, or two-year-olds (or willing to become licensed).
- Must not have any Class I DCF violations in the past 2 years
- Must not have had a contract terminated by USDA Food Program
- Located in one of the following zip codes. (33605, 33612, 33613, 33610, 33617, 33637, 33604, 33614, 33563, 33607, 33592, 33619), South County zip codes 33534, 33572, 33511, 33594, 33596, ,33569, 33570, 33598
- OR- A newly contracted school readiness provider on or after July 1st of the school year HITI eligibility is submitted.
- OR- 30% or more of the children currently enrolled receive subsidized childcare through school readiness.
Step One
The program director or owner initiating the eligibility process must have or create an account on the Institute for Early Childhood Professionals website before submitting for eligibility.
Step Two
Use the pink button on the HITI page to access and complete the eligibility survey. If the program meets the eligibility criteria, use the link in the Eligibility Notification email to access the application or log in to the Institute for Early Childhood Professionals webpage.
Step Three
Complete the application based on the program’s current information and submit.
Step Four
Your program will be contacted by an ELCH/HITI staff person to schedule a program tour (virtual or in-person).
Step Five
The program will be notified via email if selected to participate in HITI
Contact and Support
The Hillsborough Infant & Toddler Initiative (HITI) offers parents:
- Enhanced access to quality, age-appropriate childcare for children under 36 months in Hillsborough County. Benefits
- Increased availability to childcare slots for infants and toddlers
- Enhanced learning environments with a variety of age-appropriate material, safe equipment and furnishings
- Family engagement activities to foster knowledge and understanding of infant/toddler development
- Bridge the gap between the preschool and home by acquiring books to create home libraries for their child as a result of their participation in family engagement activities
