UC Davis CEDD awarded LTSAE grant

December 22, 2016

The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CEDD) at the UC Davis MIND Institute was awarded a Learn the Signs / Act Early (LTSAE) grant from the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) for 2016-2018 to support the dissemination of LTSAE resources designed to increase parent-engaged developmental monitoring.  CEDD is partnering with the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN), the State LTSAE Ambassadors, the LEND at UC Davis and the LEND at USC in this effort. 

Over the last several years CEDD has facilitated the development of the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN), a statewide initiative to develop the infrastructure and interagency collaborations to implement a statewide plan for improving services to children and youth with ASD.  CEDD staff member Patty Schetter, who is involved in the DBP fellowship and LEND training programs at UC Davis, is the coordinator of the CAPTAIN project, with key support from Patrice Yasuda, the training director of the USC LEND. They work with state agencies to develop strategic plans for implementation of evidence-based practices and various policy and initiatives related to serving individuals with ASD.

Using a training-of-trainers model in up-to-date evidence-based practices, with ongoing support for implementation, CAPTAIN consists of over 400 members who have been nominated by their respective agencies to bring the training back to the staffs of their agencies.  The agencies that have nominated trainers include the Department of Developmental Disabilities, Regional Centers, the Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs), the Family Resource Center Network, and two of the California UCEDDs (USC and UC Davis).  For more information, see www.CAPTAIN.ca.gov.

The LTSAE grant is funding the development of regional resource and referral brochures as well as the training of CAPTAIN members and LEND trainees on the LTSAE campaign.  LEND trainees will be monitoring the use and impact of the LTSAE resources by CAPTAIN members.  Designated CAPTAIN members will continue to work with the LTSAE Ambassadors to become trainer of trainers so that they can further support the campaign across California.