Patrick Shannon, Associate Professor in the UNH Department of Social Work, brings expertise in Disability Advocacy and Policy to the NH-ME LEND program. Patrick has extensive direct care, administrative, and research experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. His research focuses on the interconnection between developmental disabilities, child maltreatment, and the response of child welfare systems to support children and their families.
Since joining the NH-ME LEND program in 2009, Patrick has mentored numerous social work trainees and has dedicated his time each spring co-leading the LEND Policy Experience and supporting trainee participation in the annual Disability Policy Seminar. This year, he assisted trainees in the development of a policy brief on the Home and Community Based Services Access Act (HAA), a bill in discussion draft that would improve Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) under Medicaid. Trainees presented this brief to New Hampshire and Maine Congressional offices during the policy seminar via video conference in lieu of traditional Hill visits.
Dr. Shannon is presently conducting a qualitative study to identify effective early intervention practices for child welfare involved infants, toddlers, and their families. He is actively interviewing and holding focus groups with Early Intervention Professionals in MA, ME, NH, VT, and NM. The study is an extension of his research on Child Welfare workers and the developmental screening mandates in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). This law mandates all children up to age 3, with a substantiated case of abuse and neglect, receive a developmental assessment.
Shannon, P. (2020). Collaboration Between Early Intervention and Child Welfare Agencies: A Survey of State Part C Coordinators. Journal of Public Child Welfare. Advance online publication. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15548732.2020.1727395
