About

The goal of the New Mexico Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Interdisciplinary Leadership Training Program (NM LEND) is to provide interdisciplinary and disciplinary leadership training for graduate students and community professionals to improve systems of care that promote the prevention of disabilities and assure access to services for children with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and their families. This is accomplished through interdisciplinary and disciplinary advanced clinical and leadership training of graduate students in the core disciplines, continuing education, technical assistance and consultation for community professionals. Trainees gain competencies in interdisciplinary clinical care, family needs and preferences, and the public health system. NM LEND is a program within the Center for Development and Disability (CDD), University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

View Detailed LEND Participation Expectations

Unique Opportunities
Earn graduate credit while receiving a stipend (dependent on funding) with participation in the following disciplines:

Audiology
Family Services
Leadership
Medicine
Nutrition
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Psychology
Public Administration
Speech and Language Pathology
Social Work
Special Education
Law
Early Education
Other

Purpose Of Training
New Mexico children with developmental disabilities and other special health care needs along with their families are in great need of highly trained health care professionals who have the knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities to provide the support and assistance needed to enable these children to achieve their full potential. This shortage of trained personnel is particularly acute in rural areas and among the multicultural populations of the Southwest. The NM LEND Program is designed to help meet these needs along with fulfilling our goals of:

cultivating Culturally-Sensitive Professionals
promoting the development of knowledge and skills required to advocate for public policy change
providing Interdisciplinary Training in Leadership and clinical skills
encouraging clinical reasearch and health-care program evaluation skills
fostering skill development in community teaching and technical assistance, and
advancing family-centered, culturally-relevant, and community-based methods of health care delivery.

Program Methodology
Each Trainee works closely with their discipline core faculty to determine individual desires and approaches to gaining competencies. Competencies are achieved through a variety of means, for example:

Informational Seminars
Problem-Based Learning
Clinical Experiences
Independent Study
Research

Components Of The Program
With your LEND participation you will learn about the following:

Leadership
Research and Evaluation
Teaching and Technical Assistance
Policy Making Systems Advocacy
Interdisciplinary Team Building Skills
Value of family-centered, culturally relevant, community-based service and supports
Foundation in service needs and concerns of children with DD special health care needs and their families.
Exemplary clinical skills in your discipline with additional skills as they relate specifically to children with DD, SHCN and their families

Cultural Diversity Emphasized
New Mexico offers a unique opportunity and responsibility to provide training to health professionals encompassing sensitivity to specific ethnic groups representative of the Southwest. The Maternal and Child Health Program recognizes and values cultural diversity especially as it relates to the delivery of health services. Persons of various ethnic backgrounds of the Southwest are encouraged to apply as they provide valuable insights to cultural issues related to providing quality health services for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Experiential Levels
NM LEND students may participate in a large variety of activities available within the CDD, ranging from one-time clinical observation from four to six hours to full time LEND fellows committed to a Friday each week for a full academic year (10 months/300 + hours).