A university—community collaborative initiative to provide an interdisciplinary approach to personnel preparation is described. Twelve students (i.e., undergraduate, graduate) from various academic disciplines participated in early intervention coursework and practical experiences. Specifically, students were prepared to provide early intervention to infants/toddlers who were premature/medically fragile and their families. Courses were developed and co-taught by parents, early intervention providers, and medical professionals recruited from the community. The interdisciplinary steering committee developed intensive practical experiences to facilitate the translation of knowledge into sustained daily practice. Outcome measures indicated increased knowledge and acquisition of skills related to early intervention, and intervention specific to the high-risk population. Employment outcomes and increased opportunities for professional collaboration are also described. Implications are discussed.
Als, H., Lawhon, G., Brown, E., Gibbs, R., Duffy, F.H., McAnulty, G., et al. (1986). Individualized behavioral and environmental care for the very low birth weight preterm infant at high risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia: A neonatal intensive care unit and developmental outcome. Pediatrics, 78, 1123-1132.
2.
Als, H., Lawhon, G., Duffy, F.H., McAnulty, G., Gibes-Grossman, R., & Blickman, J.G. (1994). Individualized developmental care for the very low-birth-weight preterm infant: Medical and neurofunctional effects. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 272, 853-858.
3.
Bailey, D., Simeonsson, R., Yoder, D., & Huntington, G. (1990). Preparing professionals to serve infants and toddlers with handicaps and their families: An integrative analysis across eight disciplines. Exceptional Children, 57, 26-34.
4.
Boone, H.A., Freund, P.J., Barlow, J.H., Van Ark, G.G., & Wilson, T.K. ( 2004). Community pathways: Hospital-based services that individualize supports for families and children. Young Exceptional Children , 7(2), 10-19.
5.
Brooks-Gunn, J., McCarton, C.M., Casey, P.H., McCormick, M.C., Bauer, C.R., Bernbaum, J.C., et al. (1994). Early intervention in low-birthweight, premature infants: A multisite, randomized trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 272, 1257-1262.
6.
Crais, E.R., Boone, H.A., Harrison, M., Freund, P., Downing, K., & West, T. ( 2004). Interdisciplinary personnel preparation: Graduates’ use of targeted practices. Infants and Young Children, 17, 82-93.
7.
Hack, M., & Fanaroff, A.A. (1999). Outcomes of children of extremely low birthweight and gestational age in the 1990’s. Early Human Development, 53, 192-218.
8.
Hack, M., Horbar, J.D., Malloy, M.H., Tyson, J.E., Wright, E., & Wright, L. ( 1991). Very low birth weight outcomes of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Network. Pediatrics , 87, 587-597.
9.
Hack, M., Klein, N.K., & Taylor, H.G. ( 1995). Long-term developmental outcomes of low birth weight infants. The Future of Children, 5, 176-196.
10.
Hebbeler, K. ( 1994). Shortages in professions working with young children with disabilities and their families. Chapel Hill, NC: National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center.
11.
Hebbeler, K., Wagner, M., Spiker, D., Scarborough, A., Simeonsson, R., & Collier, M. ( 2001). National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study: A first look at the characteristics of children and families entering early intervention services (NEILS Data Report 1). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
12.
Hill, J.L., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Waldfogel, J. ( 2003). Sustained effects of high participation in an early intervention for low-birth-weight premature infants. Developmental Psychology , 39, 730-744.
13.
Hussey-Gardner, B., McNinch, A., Anastasi, J.M., & Miller, M. ( 2002). Early intervention best practice: Collaboration among a NICU, an early intervention program, and an NICU follow-up program. Neonatal Network, 21, 15-22.
14.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004,PL 108 -446, §635, 118 Stat2747 (2004).
15.
Kilgo, J.L., & Bruder, M.B. ( 1997). Creating new visions in institutions of higher education . In P. Winton, J. McCollum, & C. Catlett (Eds.), Reforming personnel preparation in early intervention: Issues, models and practical strategies (pp. 81-101). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
16.
McCarton, C.M., Brooks-Gunn, J., Wallace, I.F., Bauer, C.R., Bennett, F.C., Bernbaum, J.C., et al. (1997). Results at age 8 years of early intervention for low-birth-weight premature infants: The Infant Health and Development Program. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 277, 126-132.
17.
McCormick, M.C., McCarton, C., Brooks-Gunn, J., Belt, P., & Grosse, R.T. ( 1998). The Infant Health and Development Program: Interim summary . Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 19, 359-370.
18.
McNab, T.C., & Blackman, J.A. (1998). Medical complications of the critically ill newborn: A review for early intervention professionals . Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 18, 197-206.
19.
Mellon, A., & Winton, P. ( 2003). A study of interdisciplinary collaboration among higher education early intervention faculty members. Journal of Early Intervention, 25, 173-188.
20.
North Carolina Early Intervention Branch. (2009). North Carolina infant toddler program guidance for personnel certification . Raleigh, NC: Early Intervention Branch, Women’s & Children’s Health Section, Division of Public Health, Department of Health & Human Services.
21.
North Carolina Early Intervention Branch. (n.d.). Competencies for working with infants, toddlers, and families. Raleigh, NC: Early Intervention Branch, Women’s & Children’s Health Section, Division of Public Health, Department of Health & Human Services.
22.
Sandall, S., McLean, M.E., & Smith, B.J. ( 2000). DEC recommended practices in early intervention/early childhood special education. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
23.
Sandall, S., Hemmeter, M.L., McLean, M., & Smith. B.J. ( 2005). DEC recommended practices: A comprehensive guide for practical application in early intervention/early childhood special education . Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
24.
Stayton, V., & Bruder, M.B. ( 1999). Early intervention personnel preparation for the new millennium: Early childhood special education. Infants and Young Children, 12, 59-69.
25.
Thorp, E.K., & McCollum, J.A. (1994). Personnel in early intervention programs: Areas of needed competence. In L. J. Johnson, R. J. Gallagher, M. J. LaMontagne, J. B. Jordan, J. J. Gallagher, P. I. Hutinger, & M. B. Karnes (Eds.), Meeting early intervention challenges: Issues from birth to three (2nd ed., pp. 167-184). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
26.
Wyly, M.V. ( 1995). Premature infants and their families: Developmental interventions . San Diego, CA: Singular.
27.
Wyly, M.V., Allen, J., Pfaizer, S.M., & Wilson, J.R. ( 1996). Providing a seamless service system from hospital to home: The NICU training project. Infants and Young Children , 8, 77-84.
