The New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NH-ME LEND) is a collaboration between the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS) at the University of Maine (UMaine) and Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine.
The purpose of NH-ME LEND is to improve the health of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities by preparing leaders to enter the field of maternal and child health. Trainees from a wide variety of professional disciplines engage in training related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally responsive systems of care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families. Since 1992, NH-ME LEND has provided graduate-level interdisciplinary training in maternal and child health/developmental disabilities for students and professionals at UNH.
The NH-ME LEND Program provides graduate-level interdisciplinary training for students and professionals from diverse disciplines, including:
- Disability Studies
- Family Experience
- Health Administration
- Medicine (pediatric or adult)
- Nutrition
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Self-Advocacy
- Social Work
- Special Education/Education
- Speech Language Pathology
- School Psychology/School Counseling
This rigorous 9-month curriculum follows the academic calendar and includes coursework and hands-on experiences with faculty, families, community partners, and legislators that support trainees’ abilities to:
- Develop leadership skills that address the needs of children who have neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) and their families and move into leadership roles in their communities.
- Develop an understanding of public policy and evidence-based care.
- Participate in community-based clinical observation and training.
Traineeships require a minimum commitment of 300 hours over a 9-month period.
The NH-ME LEND Program is supported by a grant #T73MC33246 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).
