NSSHLA Minutes from May 7, 2007

For those of you who were unable to join us, here is the enlightening information you missed:

The meeting was led by one of our professors and clinical supervisors, Dr. Sonia Aller.

Dr. Aller is affiliated with The USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) is an Interdisciplinary Training Program.

USC UCEED MISSION
-Provides leadership in strengthening family-centered culturally-component services and systems for the benefit of individuals with, or at risk for developmental, behavioral, and/or special health care needs and their families in partnership with those who utilize the programs.
-USC UCEED is Interdisciplinary.
-In order to serve individuals with disabilities, we must be trained with discipline and knowledge of intervention and service. There are about 12 different disciplines that come to participate in the program for 9 months out of the year.

UCEDD Funding Sources
=Maternal and Child Health Bureau
=Administration on Developmental Disabilities
=Federal Agencies
=CA Regional Centers
=Foundations
=State Council on Developmental Disabilities
=Universities

Core Functions
+ Pre-Service Interdisciplinary Training
+ Continuing Education/Technical Assistance/Dissemination
+ Services: Clinical; Community
+ Research
+ Information Technology/Knowledge Management

Clinical and Community Services
Mental Health Services
Feeding Development Clinic
Spina Bifida Multiple Disabilities Program
LEND Interdisciplinary Teams
Early Childhood Clinic
Learning Abilities Clinic
Behavioral Pediatrics
Community Based Clinics

Continuing Education/Technical Assistance
Responds to the need for:
In-service training for Professionals
Parent training
Collaboration and coordination with local, state and regional agencies.

LEND PRE SERVICE TRAINING
-Responds to the national need for increased number of professionals trained to assume positions of leadership in the care of children with special health care needs and their families
-USC was one of the original UAP’s in 1966
-Now 23 LEND programs: 64 UCEDD’s
-USC UCEDD has affiliations with 11 schools/departments at USC and elsewhere.
-Additional affiliations with 7 universities
-Fifteen disciplines

Training Programs
*Train leaders who will provide and assure provision of quality services for children and their families.
*Professionals must:
-----Attend to special needs of children and their families
-----Provide and assure provision of interdisciplinary, family centered, and culturally-competent services
-----Focus on improving the health of entire population
-----Goal is leadership

Telehealth/Telemedicine grant to provide training/consultation to the Regional Centers in California.

TRAINING IN EIGHT DOMAINS
Neurodevelopmental and related disabilities
Interdisciplinary Team Process
Public Policy
Systems of Care
Research
Leadership Skills
Family Centered Interpersonal Skills, including Cultural Competence
Discipline-Specific Skills

LEND covers the following content areas:
v Neuromotor Disabilities
v Learning Abilities
v Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
v Autism-Spectrum Disorders
v Genetic Disorders
v Sensory Impairments
v Chronic Illness

LEND Certificate Requirements:
Long term trainees complete a minimum of 300 hours of LEND training and demonstrating competency in the eight domains of training.
(Immediate and short-term training opportunities are available depending on participant qualifications, interest, experience, and time commitment)