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.
Project Summary
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.
Goals and Objectives Accomplished
Goal 1. NH-ME LEND trainees improved culturally competent training experiences with the Somali population.
Objective 1.1. Developed and used materials for NH-ME LEND seminars to provide all trainees with requisite background on Somali populations in Maine and NH.
Objective 1.2. Developed and implemented leadership placement for NH-ME LEND trainee with NMPHI.
Objective 2.1. Convened a project team, made up of the Executive Director of NMPHI, NH-ME LEND Co-PI/CCIDS Director, and Project Leads from NMPHI and NH-ME LEND in September, January, and June to ensure project completion and a successful and beneficial collaboration between NMPHI and NH-ME LEND.
Materials attached
Suggested order for reviewing materials:
- Parent Advocacy Autism Training Narrative
- Initial Formative Document Session Outline - Autism Training Supporting You as Parents - What is Your Role?
- Listening Session Questions
- Analysis: Themes from Listening Sessions, Topic Areas
- Parent Advocacy Autism Training - Project Changes
- Sessions 1-5 folders available, please contact Sue (information below)
- NMPHI and CCIDS Parent Advocacy Training Collaborative - Project Poster
- Sue Russel and Betsy Humphrey's Autism CARES poster
Primary Contact
Susan Russell | [email protected]
