Collaboration Between 2 UCEDD Core Functions: Interdisciplinary Pre-service Training & Community Training and Technical Assistance

Caroline Coffield, PhD, Interdisciplinary Training Coordinator Colleen McLaughlin, MEd, Community Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator

Interdisciplinary Pre-service Training

Interdisciplinary Trainees:
Rutgers School of Social Work z 2nd year MSW field students Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy (Rutgers) z undergraduate public policy interns Seminar on Family Centered Care and Developmental Disabilities z 3rd year medical students Community Oriented Primary Care Summer Assistantship z medical, nursing, PA, SW students Distinction In Service to the Community (DISC) z medical students

Community Training & TA Collaborative Process:

Identified Training Need:
z Training opportunities for DSPs employed by people self-

z Introduce DISC students to project z Educate them on Person-Centered thinking (PCT) concepts,

directing their supports support needs

z People and families want training that is specific to their

DSP issues, and the connection to training need

z Connect DISC student with families

z z z

Opportunity for Collaboration:

z Little access to classroom or online training available to agency staff z Families conduct most of the training

Work with families to develop individualized lessons Support families in determining what DSPs need to know Families provided with final product

z UCEDD staff working on projects related to PCT and DSP

Time consuming Often done over a long period of time Little structure

Opportunity For Collaboration:

z For students to interact with and experience the day to day life of

Initiatives mentor students

Project Outcomes: Next Steps:

z Expand the project to students from different disciplines z Assess the capacity to sustain the project and increase the

people with disabilities and their families work of the center

z To integrate students into the ongoing community training & TA z For students to participate in and learn within context of ongoing

centered plan and supports wanted and needed by the person

z Training that can be easily adapted over time

z Clear, consistent, individualized training based around the person-

project designed to alleviate actual policy and system challenges

Project Outcomes:
z Students develop a better understanding of disability and the

number of families involved

their staff may need to know or be trained about Realistic Job Preview during the interview process centered training options
z Identified need to build capacity and increase person-

z Identification that some people/families need TA related to what

z Explore avenues for meaningful collaboration across core

z Development of a training that could be useful to provide a

impact of family beliefs, values, and involvement on support provision

z Students work with families to create a significant and

functions and projects throughout The Boggs Center

lasting product