Maternal Child
Health Bureau (MCHB)
Leadership Education
in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND)
Resource Directory
Introduction
For much of the past three decades, the Maternal
and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) , U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services has remained committed to training
professionals in caring for children with special health care needs. In
carrying out this mission, MCHB administers the Leadership Education
in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program, ensuring
that physicians, nurses, therapists, and other allied health professionals
are qualified to address the unique needs of children with special health
care needs and their families, thereby maximizing the developmental potential
of children and increasing the quality of life for families.
Through long-term interdisciplinary training
(at least 3 months) of graduate level health professionals, the LEND Program
aims to develop the leadership potential of these professionals to improve
the health status of infants, children, and adolescents with or at risk
for neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and to enhance the systems
of care for these children and their families. The program focuses on health
conditions of mental retardation, neurodegenerative and acquired neurological
disorders and multiple handicaps. Professionals are drawn from many
medical and allied health fields and participate in interdisciplinary training
in 11 core disciplines:
Audiology
Health Administration
Nursing
Nutrition
Occupational Therapy
Parents
Pediatrics
Pediatric Dentistry
Physical Therapy
Psychology
Social Work
Speech Language Pathology
Many existing LEND Programs supplement the training
experience with additional disciplines, including genetics, rehabilitation
and psychiatry and directly include family members of children with disabilities
in all phases of the training program.
All LEND Programs operate within a university
system and most have collaborative arrangements with local university hospitals,
children's hospitals, and/or health care centers. In addition, LEND Programs
are part of a larger entity, typically a University Affiliated Program
(UAP); such an affiliation provides LEND students and fellows with a wealth
of training opportunities. For example, the UAP and/or the university may
conduct or administer a variety of projects, including training and technical
assistance centers, resource centers, and research studies. LEND
students and fellows may have the opportunity to participate in these projects
to enhance their LEND training experiences.
Currently, 36 LEND Programs in 29 states provide
critically needed leadership and clinical training to professionals. These
future leaders within their respective disciplines and/or health care system
and the students and fellows who receive training through the LEND projects
are uniquely qualified to address the needs of children with special health
care needs and families through clinical services, program administration,
and policy development. Through this investment in health care professionals,
we are better assured that children with special health care needs and
their families will continue to receive appropriate services and supports
to maximize their development and contribution to society.
LEND programs emphasize leadership development in their
trainees and produce leaders for interdisciplinary treatment of children
with developmental disabilities. They also play an essential role
in supporting the university programs serving special needs children and
provide both technical assistance and consultation to providers of health
care services. Examples of program activities include training on
State Title V programs, technical assistance to Head Start and other agencies,
and various community-based programs. Moreover, LEND graduates reduce
the shortage of well-trained professionals who serve special needs children.