NH LEND Program Expands Reach Both In-state and to ME

December 30, 2011

2011-2012 NH-LEND trainee orientation

The NH Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NH-LEND) Program, a partnership of Dartmouth Medical School and the UNH Institute on Disability, has received a $4.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding, a major increase from the program's previous funding level, will support NH-LEND as it significantly expands trainee opportunities in NH and Maine. The five-year grant is the highest level of funding for such programs. The increase in funding has already allowed the program to add to its faculty, double the number of trainees, and increase the trainee stipend, making the ten-month, 300-hour program a more accessible opportunity for professionals, students, and family members. Additionally, the increase in funding supports a new partnership with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies at the University of Maine-Orono to include up to five UMaine trainees annually. Through the use of eLearning and videoconferencing technology at UNH, these trainees participate remotely in the weekly NH-LEND seminar. Ultimately, this new partnership will reach an area not currently served by a LEND training program, developing infrastructure and addressing regional needs, particularly in rural, underserved regions of Maine. "We have a talented cohort of trainees from New Hampshire and Maine and 26 faculty members from three institutions," says Betsy Humphreys, NH-LEND interdisciplinary training director. "We are very excited about this collaboration." NH-LEND provides graduate-level interdisciplinary training for students and professionals from diverse disciplines, including developmental pediatrics, early childhood education, family, nutrition, occupational therapy, social work, and speech-language pathology. The curriculum includes coursework and experiences working with faculty at Dartmouth Medical School and UNH, as well as with families, community partners, and legislators, both in NH and nationally. Program activities include leadership development, clinical training, continuing education/technical assistance, research, and cultural competency field work.

For more information about the NH-LEND Program, visit www.mchlend.unh.edu.