What is LEND?

LEND is a nine-month, 300+-hour interdisciplinary training program that incorporates both didactic and experiential learning in clinical and community-based settings. LEND prepares graduate students, self-advocates, family members, and practicing professionals to become future leaders in maternal and child health fields and to address the needs and priorities of children with autism-spectrum disorders (ASD) and/or other neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) and their families.

There are multiple LEND programs across the United States. The LEND program offered by HDC will hereafter be referred as Louisiana LEND, or LA LEND. The trainees are referred to as scholars. A faculty mentor is assigned to support scholars to complete and master components of the LA LEND program. This is a feature of some, but not all, LEND programs. More information can be found by visiting the LA LEND website.

Overview of Training Components

In order to be eligible for acceptance in the LA LEND program, applicants must have the ability to complete the program components listed below.

• A full-day orientation to be held on  July 13
• Foundations in Maternal and Child Health: A week-long intensive course that takes an in-depth look at issues and concepts in maternal and child health, August 11-13 and 15
• Seminars in Maternal and Child Health Topics and Leadership Development (Fridays, 12:30-4:30 PM)
  • Biweekly in-person and virtual seminars with embedded clinical/community experiences to build content knowledge and develop leadership skills
    • August 26
    • September 9
    • September 23
    • October 7
    • October 21
    • November 4
    • December 9
    • January 6
    • January 20
    • February 3
    • March 3 or 10
    • March 24
    • April 14
    • April 28
  • Concurrent clinical/field experiences  (dates TBD)
• Family Mentoring Experience
  • Each scholar is paired with a family for a year-long mentorship experience to better understand the "lived experience" of families of children with disabilities
  • Six (6) total visits completed over the course of the year (tentative based on pandemic course)
• Leadership Project: Each scholar will complete a 70+-hour leadership project for which he or she exercises leadership skills a maternal or child health–related issue
• Attend the Association for University Centers on Disabilities Annual Conference, November 13–16, 2022.   Scholars will be informed circa September if they will need to  travel to Washington, DC,  or if the conference will be entirely virtual.

If you agree to the above requirements, click "Begin" to begin the application.

Importance of Pronouns (opens in a new tab)

Definitions of Race and Ethnicity (opens in a new tab)

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The LA LEND program focuses on providing inclusive, family-centered, culturally effective, and linguistically appropriate supports and services to children with ASD/NDD and other developmental disabilities and their families.

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The LA LEND program focuses on providing inclusive, family-centered, culturally effective, and linguistically appropriate supports and services to children with ASD/NDD and other developmental disabilities and their families.

Submission Instructions

The following materials should be included in your application submission:

• Completed and signed Application Packet
• Current curriculum vitae or résumé
• Two letters of recommendation

All materials should be submitted to Nadia Johnson at njohn8@lsuhsc.edu by May 16, 2022. Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly to Nadia from the recommender. You can include your CV at the time of submission by uploading it below.

Training Program Requirements and Signature

Scholars must be able to attend all of the following to be considered for the program. Applicants who are unavailable for these events will not be accepted into the program. Please read the list of program requirements outlined below.

• Mandatory full-day LEND orientation
• Mandatory week-long Foundations in Maternal and Child Health course
• Friday 12:30–4:30pm seminars
• Clinic- and community-based experiences and small group assignments outside of seminar time
• Family Mentor Experience requirements (6 visits)
• 70+-hour Leadership Project on an approved maternal and child health issue/topic
• Attendance at the AUCD 2022 Conference, November 13–16, 2022

I understand and agree to the requirements of the LA LEND program listed above.