This paper focuses on the preparation of personnel to provide services to developmentally at risk infants and young children. Efforts in preparing direct service personnel should specifically define the population of children to be served, emphasize interdisciplinary preparation while recognizing the importance of disciplinary preparation, have a major curricular focus on typical and atypical development in children from birth to age 5, and have a major curricular focus on the family. In the preparation of early intervention leadership professionals, the paper calls for statements of need to justify the preparation program, recognition of the importance of problem solving skills, recognition of various types of research and policy analysis, and the incorporation of clinical exposure. (JDD)