UM-Dearborn partners with five Michigan universities to improve the health of children with disabilities

The University of Michigan-Dearborn is one of six Michigan universities partnered on a $2.2 million, five-year grant from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration for the project “Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) Maternal Child Health (MCH) Training Program,” or MI-LEND. The purpose of MI-LEND is to improve the health of infants, children, and adolescents with disabilities in Michigan by training individuals from diverse disciplines to assume leadership roles in their respective fields and work across disciplines.

MI-LEND is a consortium of six universities including University of Michigan-Dearborn, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University and Central Michigan University; all six universities will contribute faculty and trainees. The Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) at Wayne State leads the consortium with Sharon Milberger, Ph.D., director of DDI, serving as the MI-LEND program director. Jane Turner, M.D., pediatrician and professor at Michigan State University, is co-director.

 

Dean Janine Janosky

The lead at University of Michigan-Dearborn is Janine Janosky, PhD, Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services. “We at the College of Education, Health, and Human Services  at UM-Deaborn are excited to collaborate with our 5 Michigan state universities in this consortium.”, said Dean Janosky. “Through the consortium, we are working together to expand graduate-level training for working in the fields of neurodevelopment disabilities and autism.  The graduates of our programs will positively impact the children they are serving as well as work to improve the systems of care for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and autism."

MI-LEND leaders will work in collaboration with members of Michigan’s Title V program, including Children’s Special Health Care Services, the governor’s Autism Council, the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and other key statewide disability/advocacy organizations.

MI-LEND will address the complex needs of those with autism and other disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, by increasing the number of graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students prepared to address their needs. In addition, it will increase the number of providers available to diagnose and treat infants, children, and adolescents with disabilities. An important component of MI-LEND is participation of family members and individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities in developing the curriculum and working with trainees to ensure a family-centered approach to care at all levels.

“Expanding the educational opportunities related to the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities for over 181,800 medical and professional students and physicians will help improve the quality of care for these individuals and increase their ability to have self-determined independent lives,” said Lt. Gov. Brian Calley. “I am proud to see Michigan’s universities working together on advancements in this area.”

To learn more about the MI-LEND program, contact dean Janine Janosky at jjanosky@umich.edu