PRE-SERVICE TRAINING

One of the key roles of the Mailman Center is to prepare future leaders to apply advanced clinical knowledge and skills to maternal and child populations with, or at risk, for neuro-developmental and related disabilities. Graduate and post-graduate students from many disciplines have the opportunity to obtain advanced training in their discipline. Long-Term trainees spend over 300 clinical hours at the Center while Short-Term Trainees spend less than that. Trainees represent diverse backgrounds, which continues to be a fundamental strength of our program.

In addition to advanced training in their discipline, trainees have the opportunity to learn about:

• Models of interdisciplinary leadership

• Models of interdisciplinary collaboration

• Interagency collaboration

• Family-centered care

• Cultural Competency

• Models of multidisciplinary research

• Issues related to individuals with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and chronic illnesses

• Models of advocacy and system change

• Ethical issues and decision-making

Clinical training opportunities occur in a variety of programs, clinics, and outreach settings, permitting trainees to learn through direct contact with faculty and other trainees from a number of other disciplines. Other training opportunities are through structured didactics, research projects, interdisciplinary web course, interdisciplinary education and research lecture series, and a cultural competency workshop.

Trainees come to the Mailman Center through formal agreements with numerous affiliating colleges and universities across the United States. Local training arrangements exist for pre-doctoral graduate students at the University of Miami, Nova Southeastern University, Florida International University, Barry University, and St. Thomas University. In addition, advanced training opportunities are available for trainees at the intern and post-doctoral fellowship level. These advanced trainees are recruited from universities from around the United States and Caribbean basin. Examples are:

• Jackson Memorial Hospital Pediatric Residency and Fellowship Programs

• American Psychological Association accredited Internship in Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology

• NIH funded research: NICHD Research Training Grant and the Fogarty International Maternal and Child Health Training Grant.
   

• Internship in Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology

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Special Education/Early Childhood Training Program

• LEND interdisciplinary training program
   

  This was our third year to incorporate master’s level early childhood special education students into the LEND interdisciplinary training program. This initiative is possible through a U.S. Office of Special Education low-incidence minority grant to the University of Miami’s School of Education. Sixteen early childhood educators benefited from a six-week clinical experience at the Mailman Center in settings including: Florida’s Early Steps Program, the Debbie Institute (an inclusionary early care and education program), Interdisciplinary Diagnostics & Evaluation Services, Immunology, and Hematology/Oncology. This very highly rated program is preparing tomorrow’s teachers to build and support collaborative systems (social work, public health, psychology, medicine, therapeutic care, etc.), inclusive of the strong voices of families.

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Pediatric Developmental Behavioral Residency Program
 

• Developmental and Behavioral Rotation
   

  Since 2002, the Center’s Developmental and Behavioral Rotation for pediatric residents has included two months of training focusing on early diagnosis and long-term follow-up of children with chronic illness and developmental disabilities. During this rotation, residents serve as the medical representatives on several interdisciplinary diagnostic teams, observe special education classrooms, therapy sessions, psycho educational testing and a demonstration of assistive technology. In addition, each resident is paired with a family who has a child with a disability, meeting with them outside of the medical setting in order to better understand the challenges and rewards of the family’s experiences.

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Continuing Education Opportunities

The Mailman Center is also committed to improving the knowledge and skills of community professionals and paraprofessionals. This is part of the Center’s efforts to foster best practices and prepare community professionals and paraprofessionals to work collaboratively with individuals with disabilities and their families.

During this fiscal year, a total of 8,141 individuals were participants in community presentations, scientific presentations, seminars, continuing education programs and conferences conducted by Mailman Center faculty. Sample topics included:
 

• Assessment, Early Intervention and Inclusion of Children with Disabilities;

• Amplification Fittings for Young Children;

• Changes in Childcare Policies Over the Past Two Decades;

• Adapting the Environment for Young Children with Disabilities;

• The Effect of Maltreatment on Infants and Toddlers;

• Prevention Strategies in Juvenile Court;

• Behavioral Aspects of Chronic Illness in Children;

• Mother-Child Interactions in Substance Abused Children;

• Developmental issues for children affected by various chronic conditions;

• Assisting Families in Optimizing their Children’s Potential;

• The Impact of Domestic Violence;

• Children and Environmental Stress;

• Behavioral Strategies to Improve Outcomes for Children with ADHD;

• The Impact of Violence in Society on Children;

• Brain and Language Development;

• Building Babies Brains-Transitions and Separations; and

• Assistive Technology for Early Care and Education Programs.

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Continuing Education Projects & Opportunities
 

Project ABCs: Interdisciplinary Fundamentals in Adaptive and Assistive Technology

A comprehensive interdisciplinary, multi-media interactive assistive technology internet training program. The on-line course provided approximately 150 scholarships for health care professionals, parents, and individuals with a disability. The course is extensive and is divided into 30 topical sessions, each consisting of didactic instruction, illustrations, assignments, quizzes, and case studies. Continuing Education Credits are available for all child development related disciplines. (Funded by the Office of Special Education Programs.)

Fundamentals of Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
Providing Care to Children with Special Needs and Their Families

Three interactive, online courses to enhance skills necessary to provide quality services and supports to individuals with disabilities and their families. Materials are presented within the context of family scenarios using current philosophical approaches for working with children, adolescents and adults. Continuing Education Credits and Continuing Medical Education credits are available. The courses are designed to meet the needs of a wide scope of professionals. In addition to our trainees taking these courses, over 40 practicing professionals registered for the course and 100% have stated that it meets their learning needs and would recommend the course to a colleague. (Funded by Florida’s Developmental Disabilities Council.)

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