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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Building Capacity of Early Intervention Providers' Track: 9-Policy, Advocacy, and Legislative Issues Audience: Primary Audience: Secondary Audience: Tertiary Audeince: Keyword(s): Capacity, mentoring, quality providers, trainers, professional development Learning Objectives: How to build a pool of qualified providers and sustaining quality providers through professional development and mentoring Abstract: A key component to sustaining the quality of services in early intervention is mentoring and on-going professional development. Indiana's EDHI system in 2004 was a collaboration between the Indiana Department of Health, First Steps (Part C), and the Indiana School for the Deaf Outreach Services. The Training for Early Language Development, TELD Project was written and implemented as a result of the need for specialized Early Intervention providers to work with newly identified deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. Technical assistance regarding components leading to a successful program from Utah and from Colorado was sought. The TELD project created a system that is now self sustaining and continues to replenish providers with annual initial training being conducted by Indiana trainers. Challenges in the recruitment of providers and identification of ideal candidates will be shared as well as lessons learned regarding the selection of trainers, quality of new providers and reasons providers do not remain in early intervention. The benefits of the mentoring process as well as professional development built into the system are critical to quality control in early intervention for deaf and hard of hearing children and families. Handouts: Handout is not Available
SPEAKER INFORMATION
PRESENTER(S): Cindy Lawrence - Indiana School for the Deaf      Credentials: Outreach Director MA-CCC-A      Other Affiliations: ASHA, ICASE (Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education), First Steps       Cindy began her career first working for an otologist, then in the Indianapolis Public School where she served as an itinerant teacher and Educational Audiologist. She currently serves as Director of the Outreach Department. She works closely with the Department of Education, local Directors of Special Educaiton, First Steps, and other agencies providing services for deaf and hard of hearing children as well as administrating the department. As a licensed educational audiologist at ISD since 1986, she has served as the preschool and elementary school audiologist, Director of Assessment Services and now as the Director of Outreach. Outreach services are statewide and serve children and families from birth through 21 years of age. Jodee Crace - Outreach Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children      Credentials: M.A.: School Guidance Counseling with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children      Other Affiliations: NAEYC and American Society for Deaf Children       Jodee has lived as a Deaf person all her life and currently works as an Early Intervention Coordinator with the Outreach Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Indiana. Her roles involve assessment, eligibility determination, home-based family education services, counseling, Deaf Mentoring, presenting with stakeholders, participating in committee meetings, and drafting various position papers in best practices with Early Intervention. Jodee is married to a Deaf man and they have four sons. One of their son's is totally blind and hard of hearing. The rest of the children are Deaf.   AUTHOR(S): Cindy Lawrence - Indiana School for the Deaf      Credentials: Outreach Director MA-CCC-A      Other Affiliations: ASHA, ICASE (Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education), First Steps       BIO: Cindy began her career first working for an otologist, then in the Indianapolis Public School where she served as an itinerant teacher and Educational Audiologist. She currently serves as Director of the Outreach Department. She works closely with the Department of Education, local Directors of Special Educaiton, First Steps, and other agencies providing services for deaf and hard of hearing children as well as administrating the department. As a licensed educational audiologist at ISD since 1986, she has served as the preschool and elementary school audiologist, Director of Assessment Services and now as the Director of Outreach. Outreach services are statewide and serve children and families from birth through 21 years of age.