Project Description:
Goals and Objectives: The overarching goal of the LEND program is to prepare caring and competently trained professionals who will improve the health of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. The LEND program accomplishes this by:
1) Providing long-term leadership training to a wide range of health and education professionals or graduate students for key leadership positions in areas related to children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families
2) Providing a dynamic and effective learning experience for trainees and fellows, designed to teach advanced clinical skills and to develop leadership abilities
3) Preparing professionals who have the advanced clinical skills necessary to provide competent, caring, high quality health and related services to children with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and their families
4) Preparing professionals who have the leadership skills necessary to improve and enhance systems of care for children with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and their families.
5) Preparing professionals who have the knowledge, skill and values to work in partnership with families
6) Preparing professionals who have the knowledge, skills, and values to provide culturally competent health care to children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families
7) Preparing professionals who have knowledge and skills for the provision of health care to vulnerable populations with limited access to care
8) Preparing health professionals who have the skills to pursue new knowledge through critical inquiry and research.
9) Providing technical assistance and consultation to develop or improve services to children with special health care needs and their families.
10) Providing continuing education, community training, workshops, and presentations geared to the needs of MCH professionals, policy makers and families.
Methodology: A minimum of 17 long-term trainees and fellows, representing up to 13 disciplines and including family specialists (parents or siblings), complete the program each year. The LEND program achieves its objectives through the implementation of a comprehensive, interactive, and rigorous curriculum. Trainees may earn a fifteen credit certificate in Children with Special Health Care Needs at the New York Medical College School of Health Sciences and Practice for their work in the LEND Program. The core curriculum components are: (1) the core course on Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Systems of Care, including a central focus on family partnerships, cultural competency, and policy and advocacy (2) the Interdisciplinary Leadership Seminar, based on the MCH Leadership Competencies (3) the sSminar in Evidence-based Methods which includes a team project experience for all trainees and culminates in poster session at the state and local level; and (4) supervised interdisciplinary clinical training. Each trainee develops a portfolio during the fellowship consisting of work samples that reflect the acquisition of leadership competencies during the fellowship.
Each year, two to four graduate students from the University of Puerto Rico UCEDD participate as LEND trainees in our program via videoconference and in-person participation.
Keyword(s):
leadership training. distance learning, family partnerships, MCH competency
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities, Other - Leadership
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County, Mulit-County, State, Regional, National
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
