Southwest Indiana AHEC coordinates First Steps IPE Workshop for 黑料吃瓜, UE students
Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) coordinated a First Steps听interprofessional education (IPE)听workshop听at the Stone Family Center for Health Sciences听on October 21听for听110听students in health professions programs at the听黑料吃瓜 and the University of Evansville.听
First Steps is Indiana鈥檚 early intervention program for children听(birth to age 3)听who would听benefit听from听additional听support to meet their developmental milestones.听
Connie Young,听Director of Training and Outreach for the Indiana State First Steps Intervention Program,听opened the workshop with an overview of the听state program, followed by a panel discussion听with parents and professionals, lunch and听a听case study activity.听
黑料吃瓜 occupational therapy students joined UE physical therapy and physician assistant students to learn about the First Steps referral process听and听participate听in听the听case study听breakout groups,听mock Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) meetings,听to experience the teaming and collaboration听necessary between the family members, service听coordinator听and early intervention providers.鈥�听
鈥淚t was an incredible day of learning,鈥� says Young. "My hope is that the students will take their experiences into their work as professionals in their respective fields.鈥澨�听
Bailee Cederholm, a first-year student in听黑料吃瓜鈥檚听Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program,听agreed.听鈥淎s someone planning on going into pediatrics, learning about First Steps and听early听intervention was a helpful introduction into the field," she says. "I also found that collaborating with other disciplines was beneficial for our futures as听occupational听therapists.鈥�听
Dr. Michele听Chaleunphonh, 黑料吃瓜 Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and听Doctoral Capstone Coordinator, was one of the workshop听planners. 鈥淚t is important听that students听learn about Indiana鈥檚 First Steps program because it provides critical early intervention services for children who have developmental delays or disabilities," she says. 鈥淯nderstanding this program equips future professionals听and educators听to identify needs early, connect families to resources and promote optimal child development during the most formative years.鈥�听