Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

LEND Program

The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center ’s Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics is a national leadership education program funded through the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Affiliated with the University of Cincinnati, the program provides graduate level training of professionals for leadership roles in the provision of health and related care, continuing education, technical assistance, research and consultation.

The purpose of the LEND training program is to improve the health of infants, children, and adolescents with or at risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities or other similar conditions such as autism. Emphasis is on developing family-centered, culturally competent interdisciplinary leadership skills. The national LEND program envisions a future in which “all children, youth, and families will live and thrive in healthy communities served by a quality workforce that helps assure their health and well being.”

The national network of 40 LEND programs operates within university systems and are commonly affiliated with local university hospitals and/or healthcare centers. This collaboration provides the programs with expert faculty, facilities, and other resources necessary to provide exceptional interdisciplinary training and services.

The objectives of the LEND program are to:

Provide a knowledge base in neurodevelopmental disabilities or other similar conditions, such as autism.
Provide high-quality interdisciplinary education that emphasizes the integration of services from state and local agencies, organizations, private providers, and communities.
Provide health professionals with skills that foster community-based partnerships.
Promote innovative practices to enhance culturally competent, family-centered care, and interdisciplinary partnerships.
Advance the knowledge and skills of all child health professionals to improve healthcare delivery systems for children with developmental disabilities.

The LEND program at Cincinnati Children’s is one of the oldest in the country and has trained more than 1,000 healthcare professionals. One to two students from disciplines such as audiology, genetic counseling, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, family, psychology, social work, and speech/language are accepted each year to participate in the LEND’s Interdisciplinary Leadership Core Curriculum program m. The trainees commit twenty hours per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and may be awarded a small stipend. The trainees learn and work together during interdisciplinary classes and seminars, team training using patient cases, family conferences, multi-disciplinary observations, portfolio completion, family mentorship experiences, and research projects.