Funded Projects

Problem:

In WV 18.3 % of children have special health care needs. Autism spectrum disorder prevalence is 7.1%. Meeting these children's needs require skilled health care leaders sensitive to complex cultural, social and economic issues of state. Poor roads, low literacy and poverty impact accessibility.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: Improve health care delivery systems in rural areas by advancing knowledge and skills of a range of child health professionals. Objective 1: identify, recruit, select and retain 13 long-term trainees per year. Objective 2: ID, develop and provide 10 CE opportunities through provision of speakers for established conferences and development of web-based distance learning modalities. Objective 3: Provide didactic, clinical and leadership training so that pre and post-test demonstartes a development of an understanding of benefits of seamless accessible system of care Goal 2: Promote integration of services supported by state and local agencies, organizations, private providers and communities across the life course by providing quality interdisciplinary education Objective 1: Provide trainees with the conceptual knowledge and skills to lead family centered interdisciplinary processes in variety of settings including remote community-based environments. Objective 2: Provide at least 6 interdisciplinary service demonstration for rural communities through continuing education and technical assistance. Objective 3: Provide trainees with 5 opportunities to collaborate with state Title V agencies through service, training, CE andtechnical assistance. Goal 3: Increase diagnosis and evidence-based treatment of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities in rural setting by providing familycentered, interdiscilinary training opportunities Objective 1: Provide eight observations of interdisciplinary diagnosis of ASD and related disorders. Objective 2: Increase capacity of rural community settings to use innovative practice models to expand diagnostice services to children suspected of ASD or other NDD. Objective 3: Participate in 8 interdisciplinary clinical experience emphasizing high quality, family centered and community based care in development of "Individualized Life Plan"

Methodology:

Clinical participation/ experiential forums including Feeding and Swallowing clinic and Next Steps Clinic Didactive Learning activities - Disabilities and the Family Course, Lifespan Policy Coourse Interactive Learning experiences - Orientation; Leadership Seminar, journal club Research activies - Journal Club, Research projects Communitee based clinics and service provision Individual Self-Reflection

Coordination:

Long history of coordination of services with Title V through a variety of activites. Trainees participate in CSHCN clinics where they learn about agencies that provide care to CSHCN.

Evaluation:

Pre and post testing will be used to assess program effectiveness and to assist in adjusting information presented and the way information is presented. Trainee performance is evaluated periodically by the mentors and training director. Data of program activites is maintained and reviewed periodically.