MCH INTERDISCIPLINARY LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM - The proposed Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) Program will strengthen the maternal and child health workforce by preparing interdisciplinary leaders to improve health outcomes for children, youth, and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities (autism/DD) and their families across Ohio. The program responds to persistent shortages of professionals with expertise in autism/DD, limited access to coordinated and evidence-based services, long wait times for diagnosis and treatment, inadequate integration of physical and behavioral health care, and insufficient transition supports for adolescents and young adults moving into adult systems of care. Ohio also faces significant shortages of primary care and mental health providers, particularly in rural and Appalachian communities, creating barriers to timely, high-quality services for individuals with autism/DD and their families. These challenges contribute to unmet health needs, poor care coordination, delayed identification of developmental concerns, and inequities in access to services across the lifespan. The project will recruit and train at least 29 long-term trainees annually from a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, nutrition, public health, genetic counseling, special education, and developmental-behavioral pediatrics. The program will also include family members and individuals with disabilities as trainees, ensuring that lived experience remains central to leadership development and service improvement. Additional short- and medium-term trainees will participate through targeted educational and clinical experiences. Training will combine interdisciplinary coursework, clinical experiences, leadership development, and community engagement, as well as research, quality improvement, and policy education. Trainees will develop competencies in evidence-based developmental screening, diagnosis, evaluation, intervention, care coordination, transition planning, mental health identification and treatment, family-centered care, systems thinking, health literacy, and the use of technology and telehealth. Clinical training will occur in interdisciplinary settings that serve individuals with autism/DD across the lifespan and provide opportunities for trainees to work directly with individuals, families, and professionals in coordinated models of care. The program will collaborate with state agencies, health systems, disability organizations, educational programs, and community partners to provide technical assistance, continuing education, and systems-level improvement activities. Trainees and faculty will support workforce development efforts, contribute to policy and leadership initiatives, conduct research and quality improvement projects, and help strengthen community-based and healthcare systems serving individuals with autism/DD. The project will emphasize improving access to physical and mental health services, increasing provider knowledge and confidence, expanding transition supports, and promoting person- and family-centered approaches. The primary populations served are children, adolescents, transition-age youth, and adults with autism/DD, as well as their families and caregivers. Secondary beneficiaries include healthcare professionals, educators, community service providers, public health professionals, and state and local systems that support individuals with disabilities. Through the development of an interdisciplinary workforce prepared to lead clinical, community, research, and policy initiatives, the project will improve healthcare capacity, strengthen coordinated systems of care, and promote better health, participation, and quality-of-life outcomes for individuals with autism/DD and their families throughout Ohio and nationally.
