Rose F. Kennedy LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities)
The Rose F. Kennedy Center is home to one of 52 LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities) programs. Each year, more than 1,000 professionals receive long-term, intermediate-term, or short-term training through the Rose F. Kennedy Center LEND program.
What is LEND?
LEND is an interdisciplinary training program funded by the Division of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Workforce Development. The LEND program trains graduate level health professionals, self-advocates, and family members, to assume leadership roles in their respective fields and improve health outcomes of children with disabilities and other special health care needs.
RFK LEND
The RFK LEND interdisciplinary (ID) training occurs at the RFK Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (RFK CERC). The program includes faculty and trainees from Columbia University, Fordham University, Yeshiva University, Manhattan College, Hunter College, New York University, Pace University and Sarah Lawrence College.
RFK LEND Objectives
The RFK LEND has five core objectives:
- Provide high-quality interdisciplinary graduate level education that emphasizes the integration of services supported by state, local agencies, organizations, private providers, and communities.
- Advance the knowledge and skills of health professionals to improve health care delivery systems for children with developmental disabilities.
- Engage in the national network of LEND programs, to foster collaboration, coordinate program efforts, disseminate research to the field, and provide peer mentorship opportunities.
- Provide training in making science and evidence-based judgments, through an understanding of research methodology, statistics, knowledge about current research issues in the field, and development and completion of a research project, with production of a report that can be published in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal and presented at the RFK LEND and, if possible, at national meetings.
- Promote innovative practices to enhance cultural competency, family-centered care, and interdisciplinary partnerships.
Department of Developmental-Behavorial Pediatrics (DBP)
The Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) training program is based in the Division of Developmental Medicine, within the Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. Our training program’s primary clinical site is the Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (RFK CERC).
Partners and Collaborations
RFK LEND partners with family, state, and national agencies and programs, including:
- Act Early Ambassador Program
- WIHD and Rochester LEND programs through the Statewide Systems Improvement Program
- DB PedNet
- Parent to Parent (the NYS Family Voices)
- Title V programs across NYS and the country.