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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Defining Core Competencies for Providers: A Three Year Investigation' Track: 1-EHDI Program Enhancement Audience: Primary Audience: Secondary Audience: Tertiary Audeince: Keyword(s): early intervention, Competencies, Professional Development Learning Objectives: 1) Describe the core competencies for early intervention providers recommended by research and national organizations and initiatives; 2) Identify ways in which these competencies can be used to set standards or support professional development activities for providers. Abstract: Best practice documents recommend that programs utilize “highly qualified” providers in early intervention. However, a clear definition of this term has remained elusive. This presentation will build on a 3-year effort to define the knowledge and skills of a “highly qualified” early intervention provider. The first year of this project looked at the need to establish a set of competencies, to provide support for those who do not have essential skills, and to recognize those who are “highly qualified” to work with young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. In year two, the project identified the broad content areas that address the competencies needed by early interventionists. In year three, a survey of states and territories identified the existing qualifications and competencies for early interventionists across the United States. This survey of states and EHDI coordinators (Sass-Lehrer, et al., 2010) revealed that there are few states that have credentials for working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This year’s presentation will be a culmination of the project. Moeller, Stredler Brown & Sass-Lehrer (2009) have analyzed the recommendations of professional organizations and national initiatives regarding the knowledge and skills for early intervention providers. This session will describe the complete list of core competencies that were gleaned from these organizations. This list of core competencies includes skills that are recommended for any early interventionist implementing a family-centered approach with infants and toddlers with hearing loss. This will be an interactive session that engages conference participants in a discussion about the breadth and depth of these competencies, initiatives that consider adoption of these practices, and ways in which these competencies can be used to set standards or promote professional development for highly qualified early intervention providers. Handouts: Handout is not Available
SPEAKER INFORMATION
PRESENTER(S): Marilyn Sass-Lehrer - Gallaudet University      Credentials: Ph.D.       Marilyn Sass-Lehrer is Professor Emerita at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, USA. She received a master’s degree in Deaf Education from New York University and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum and Instruction. She is the co-director of the Gallaudet University Graduate Interdisciplinary Certificate Program: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and Their Families. She is editor of Early Intervention for Deaf and Hard-of- Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2016), co-author of Parents and their Deaf Children: The Early Years (2003), and co-editor of The Young Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child: A Family-Centered Approach to Early Education (2003). Dr. Sass-Lehrer has been actively involved in national and international efforts to support professional development and learning for early intervention providers and promote quality early education and family involvement. Arlene Stredler Brown - University of Colorado      Credentials: PhD, CCC-SLP       Arlene Stredler-Brown, PhD, CCC-SLP provides consultation and technical assistance to programs working with infants, toddlers, and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She has graduate degrees in Speech/Language Pathology, Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and a doctoral degree in Special Education. Research currently focuses on telepractice; she is the co-investigator for a Phase II Clinical Trial funded by the National Institutes of Health to study services delivered to young children who are deaf via telepractice. Since retiring from her position as Director of the Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP), Dr. Stredler-Brown continues to work with initiatives promoting evidence-based early intervention practices, the measurement of effective education and health care options, and the use of individualized assessments and treatments. She publishes regularly on these topics. Dr. Stredler-Brown works in adjunct faculty positions at the University of Northern Colorado and the University of British Columbia. Mary Pat Moeller - Director, Center for Childhood Deafness Lied Learning and Technology Center at Boys Town National Research Hospital      Credentials: Ph.D.       Nicole Hutchinson - Gallaudet University      Credentials: B.A. Linguistics       Nicole Hutchinson is a graduate student at Gallaudet University. She will graduate in May 2011 with a Masters degree in Deaf Education with a specialization in Family-Centered Early Education. Karen Clark - UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders      Credentials: M.A., CCC-A      Other Affiliations: NCHAM       Karen Clark is the Director of the Education Division at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas. Responsibilities include supervision of the deaf education early intervention and preschool programs for the Dallas Independent School District. Karen consults with the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) in the area of early intervention. She has an M. A. Degree and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology and holds Texas State Certification in Education of the Deaf and Early Childhood Education.   AUTHOR(S): Marilyn Sass-Lehrer - Gallaudet University      Credentials: Ph.D.       BIO: Marilyn Sass-Lehrer is Professor Emerita at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, USA. She received a master’s degree in Deaf Education from New York University and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum and Instruction. She is the co-director of the Gallaudet University Graduate Interdisciplinary Certificate Program: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and Their Families. She is editor of Early Intervention for Deaf and Hard-of- Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2016), co-author of Parents and their Deaf Children: The Early Years (2003), and co-editor of The Young Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child: A Family-Centered Approach to Early Education (2003). Dr. Sass-Lehrer has been actively involved in national and international efforts to support professional development and learning for early intervention providers and promote quality early education and family involvement. Arlene Stredler Brown - University of Colorado      Credentials: PhD, CCC-SLP       BIO: Arlene Stredler-Brown, PhD, CCC-SLP provides consultation and technical assistance to programs working with infants, toddlers, and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She has graduate degrees in Speech/Language Pathology, Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and a doctoral degree in Special Education. Research currently focuses on telepractice; she is the co-investigator for a Phase II Clinical Trial funded by the National Institutes of Health to study services delivered to young children who are deaf via telepractice. Since retiring from her position as Director of the Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP), Dr. Stredler-Brown continues to work with initiatives promoting evidence-based early intervention practices, the measurement of effective education and health care options, and the use of individualized assessments and treatments. She publishes regularly on these topics. Dr. Stredler-Brown works in adjunct faculty positions at the University of Northern Colorado and the University of British Columbia. Mary Pat Moeller - Director, Center for Childhood Deafness Lied Learning and Technology Center at Boys Town National Research Hospital      Credentials: Ph.D.       BIO: Nicole Hutchinson - Gallaudet University      Credentials: B.A. Linguistics       BIO: Nicole Hutchinson is a graduate student at Gallaudet University. She will graduate in May 2011 with a Masters degree in Deaf Education with a specialization in Family-Centered Early Education. Karen Clark - UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders      Credentials: M.A., CCC-A      Other Affiliations: NCHAM       BIO: Karen Clark is the Director of the Education Division at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas. Responsibilities include supervision of the deaf education early intervention and preschool programs for the Dallas Independent School District. Karen consults with the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) in the area of early intervention. She has an M. A. Degree and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology and holds Texas State Certification in Education of the Deaf and Early Childhood Education.