There is a shortage of providers trained to meet the needs of children and teens with mental health conditions and other disabilities in the state of Michigan and nationally. The University of Michigan (UM) has partnered with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental & Related Disabilities program in our state (MI-LEND) to support the education and clinical experiences of learners as they advance through this training. In order to expand the reach of MI-LEND educational experiences at UM and better support the curriculum engaging medium and short-term MI-LEND learners, further development of the curriculum and resources that can serve these learners in the UM area is needed.
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This FAST project addresses the needs around expanding access to culturally and linguistically appropriate DBP services by engaging stakeholders (families and medical interpreters) in a collaborative learning curriculum. This area is a priority for our program as we continue to deepen our understanding of providing culturally and linguistically competent care to families of children with DD/ASD. We hold true that cultural and linguistic competence are developmental processes at both the individual and organizational level and that with appropriate support, individuals can enhance their knowledge and skills over time.
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Although NH-ME LEND has recruited an ethnically diverse cohort of long-term trainees for 2018-19, that has historically been challenging to achieve. In addition, NH-ME LEND clinical and leadership placements, especially in Maine, have frequently contacted underserved populations but have typically had limited contact with ethnically, racially, and linguistically diverse populations. UMaine has recently begun a relationship with New Mainers Public Health Initiative (NMPHI), which is a public health and social service agency headquartered in Lewiston that serves New Mainers-recent immigrants to the secondary resettlement area and their families. NMPHI has also recently become a provider of Medicaid-funded Rehabilitative and Community Support Services for Children with Cognitive Impairments and Functional Limitations. UMaine is currently partnering with NMPHI to develop parent advocacy training (especially regarding Individualized Educational Programs and advocacy within the K-12 education system) for families receiving these services from NMPHI. This project expanded this new relationship to provide culturally and linguistically diverse didactic content and clinical opportunities for LEND fellows.
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