Project Description:
KUCDD Faculty/Staff will develop the structure and evaluative methods to refine and continue recruitment of undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds into disability-related graduate preparation programs in Maternal-Child Health, as well as special education graduate programs. KUCDD will position the team for expansion of such partnerships and opportunities for undergraduate student experiences with MCH training through external funding (e.g. LEAP).
Key Tasks:
1. Develop partnerships with collaborators to strengthen undergraduate pipeline to graduate disability-related programs from underrepresented communities
o Objective 1.1: KUCDD will contact at least 6 programs with undergraduate mentoring programs targeting first generation college students and students from underrepresented communities across the state of Kansas; and partner with at least 2 programs for remaining objective steps
o Objective 1.2: KUCDD will gain feedback/input from faculty, staff and students of those programs to understand unique recruitment/retention considerations related to MCH-related training programs (e.g. social work, Allied Health programs, MPH, medicine, nursing, psychology)
2. Increase knowledge for partners of MCH Workforce, MCH Training Pipeline, special education training programs, INSTRUCT, LEAP program, and LEND programs
o Objective 2.1: KUCDD will make educational presentations to undergraduate mentoring program staff and students about possible MCH and disability-related careers and about the INSTRUCT and LEND programs as a mentorship tool, as well as insights for preparing for graduate school.
o Objective 2.2: Identify 2-3 trainees from each partner site (4-6 total) to participate in the Interdisciplinary Pipeline Pilot Project (I - PP) during Y3-5 of proposed project
3. Increase student knowledgeable of possible career paths in MCH fields, and increase opportunities for students to participate in graduate preparatory experiences
O Objective 3.1: I-PP trainees complete pilot STT curriculum, including pre- and post-assessment related to awareness of MCH and disability-related careers, awareness of LEND programs, special education career pathways, and awareness of preparation steps for graduate education
4. KUCDD Staff will identify partner faculty/staff at undergraduate university programs who lead programs serving first generation or underrepresented students at universities and/or colleges (e.g. McNair, TRIO, Upward Bound) to plan for submission of a Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways (LEAP) proposal. (https://mchb.hrsa.gov/training/projects.asp?program=22).
5. Review and disseminate impact data from pilot years in Tasks 1-4.
6. Develop proposal for external funding to support continued expansion of the mentorship model. (e.g. LEAP)
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
