Leadership

• Natalie Stollon, LCSW, MPH, and Kathryn Burke, Ph.D.

Summary

Young Adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities are at a higher risk of SMHC, and experience other support needs that can affect their community participation. Most healthcare providers lack the knowledge to support such individuals. To address this, we will partner with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities  (LEND) program to develop new training content for promoting community living among Young Adults with SMHC and neurodevelopmental disabilities from disadvantaged backgrounds. This content will be integrated into CHOP's existing LEND program.

Activities

1. We will recruit 2-4 LEND fellows to create up to eight new training modules that follow cultural competence best practices and the RRTC research findings.
2. The modules will cover SMHC overview, disadvantaged youth populations with SMHC, and community inclusion and participation. 
3. Dr. Stollon will implement the new modules within the 2025-2026 cohort of CHOP LEND Fellows, and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities will share them with other LEND programs.