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Training opportunities

The Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (Va-LEND) is an advance level interdisciplinary leadership training program. The purpose of the program is to train health care professionals and related disciplines to be leaders in the field of childhood neurodevelopmental and related disabilities. The program recruits graduate students or professionals who hold a graduate degree in the following disciplines: audiology, developmental pediatrics, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, pediatric dentistry, physical therapy, psychology, public health, social work, special education, and speech - language pathology. In addition, Va-LEND recruits family members of children with special needs to be trainees in the program. This training program is supported by federal funds from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration.

You will find the application and contact information on the Va-LEND website at http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/valend.

The Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Severe Disabilities

The Consortium is designed to increase the number of highly skilled teachers who are endorsed in Severe Disabilities. The Consortium includes teacher education programs in severe disabilities from five participating universities: George Mason University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

A common licensing curriculum, which includes 33 graduate credit hours of coursework and field experiences, has been developed across participating universities. Each class uses video conferencing technology to establish real-time, interactive, multipoint conference instruction among the five university sites.

Individuals interested in applying to the Severe Disabilities (SD) Consortium must meet the admission requirements of their selected university. Furthermore, individuals need to complete the SD Consortium application and submit it to the SD faculty member at their university.

Please note that application procedures vary for each university. However, all applicants must have passed Praxis I or the SAT/ACT equivalent for admission into the SD Consortium. For more information, visit the Consortium website at: http://www.kihd.gmu.edu/sdc.

Training for Nurses (SNAPP Program)

SNAPP pays tuition for the three SNAPP credit-bearing courses for nurses who participate in the project. Nurses who are enrolled or planning to enroll in RN to BS or RN to MS programs, as well as baccalaureate nursing students at one of the participating university schools of nursing are eligible to apply. Practicing nurses with a BS or MS degree also may apply, but enrollment in a degree-granting program is required by several of the participating schools of nursing. Participating schools of nursing include: Hampton University, James Madison University, Radford University, Shenandoah University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University. In return, SNAPP Scholars agree to work as school nurses for one year.

Major Activities

Provides tuition support for SNAPP Scholars to take the following credit-bearing SNAPP courses:

• Assessing the Health Needs of Vulnerable Populations with the Context of Schools, is an online 3 credit course that focuses on school nursing practice, cultural diversity, the needs of students with low-incidence disabilities (LID), legal issues in schools, and resources that support students with LID, their families, and the professionals who work with them.
• Collaborative Teaming in the Schools: Working Together to Improve Outcomes for Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities, is a one week summer course that brings together SNAPP Scholars and related service personnel to learn about team roles, dynamics and development and to work in interdisciplinary teams on cases to refine their teaming skills.
• A Clinical Practicum through the participating school of nursing.

Contact:

Bernice Allen, Project Director, at (804) 828-8593, ballen@vcu.edu

Kristen Stahr, Project Coordinator, at (804) 828-9920, khstahr@vcu.edu