AUCD – Page 2

Hausman and Howard to lead Kentucky’s Act Early Network

Posted on September 9, 2020 | by Beth Potter

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) has received a 2020 Act Early State and Territorial Team COVID-19 Response Initiative grant funded through an existing cooperative agreement between the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

Christine Hausman, Kentucky’s Act Early Ambassador, and Mary Howard, Director of Child Care Aware of Kentucky, will lead this effort to ensure there is continued and enhanced access to relevant developmental monitoring tools, materials, and program information that will improve resiliency of families with young children during the COVID-19 response. This opportunity is expected to help boost and evaluate the integration of parent-engaged developmental monitoring using “Learn the Signs. Act Early” (LTSAE) in statewide programs serving families with young children (birth to age 5).

Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones, HDI’s Executive Director, says, “HDI has the team, the resources, and the broad partnerships necessary to carry out this critical initiative for Kentucky’s children and families.

Visit the LTSAE website to learn more.

boy in wheat field with sun shining brightly

Mary Howard selected a Children’s Mental Health Champion

Posted on June 1, 2020 | by Beth Potter

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) with support from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has selected Mary Howard, HDI Research and Development Associate for Early Care and Education, as a Children’s Mental Health Champion. Mary is one of six people selected for this opportunity to serve as a state liaison to the CDC’s Children’s Mental Health program. She will act as community champion change agent to increase awareness activities and improvement of positive parenting practices; develop and test strategies for building partnerships to promote identification, screening, referral, and intervention; and implement effective strategies for mental health promotion, prevention supports, and creation of networks (e.g., school, healthcare, and community) and promote better connections between these systems.

Mary serves as the Director of Child Care Aware of Kentucky and has a network of potential partners who serve children and their families across the Commonwealth.

Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones, HDI’s Executive Director, says “We’ve known Mary as a champion for early childhood for many years. This new role is so important in bridging mental health needs for our little-ist Kentuckians. Having an opportunity for dialogue at a national level will help strengthen families in the Commonwealth.”

In addition to Kentucky, individuals were selected to represent California, Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia, and Washington D.C. You can learn more about the CDC’s Children’s Mental Health Program at https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/index.html and AUCD at www.aucd.org.

Project Contact: Mary.Howard@uky.edu

Danielle Augustin selected as AUCD Emerging Leader

Posted on April 1, 2020 | by Beth Potter

The UK Human Development Institute is pleased to announce the selection of Danielle Augustin as an Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Emerging Leader. Emerging Leaders can make a collective impact at the local, state, and national level and are part of a community of early career professionals from all health and related disciplines, including self-advocates and family members; and others that are relatively new to the disability field. AUCD provides an array of resources, including access to a diverse range of disability experts from across the country, as well as opportunities for leadership, academic, and professional growth.

Danielle has her master’s degree in Health Promotion and is the Disability Education Health Coach for UK HDI Health and Wellness initiatives. As a health coach, Danielle aims to empower individuals with disabilities and their support networks to live a holistically healthy lifestyle which prioritizes the mental, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, sexual, and social aspects of health alongside the physical aspects.

“The ability to continue to fight for the equality of people with disabilities, without discouragement, is both a meaningful skill and a beautiful art”.

-Danielle Augustin

Learn more about AUCD Emerging Leaders at https://www.aucd.org/emergingleaders/Home.

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HDI partnership receives AUCD grant to support Kentucky families

Posted on November 24, 2019 | by Beth Potter

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has awarded the UK Human Development Institute (HDI) the Innovative Community of Practice (CoP) on Parenting, Behavioral Concerns & Strategy grant. HDI will partner with the KY-Statewide Parent Information & Training Network (KY-SPIN) and the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities (CCDD) to utilize Centers for Disease Control (CDC) resources for families with children who have behavioral issues. Kentucky is one of three states to receive this funding that will support early care and education (ECE) providers with evidence-based training and resources to promote quality in the family engagement domain of the statewide ECE quality rating and improvement system.
HDI, KY-SPIN, and CCDD have a long-standing history of providing services and advocacy on behalf of children in the Commonwealth. These partners will work together to develop a state-level CoP to support parents with young children (birth to age 8) who have been identified or are at risk of having behavioral concerns by increasing workforce capacity through training. Joanne Rojas, PhD, Associate Director of Child Care Aware, is the principal investigator for this effort.
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HDI participates in the 2019 AUCD Conference

Posted on November 19, 2019 | by Beth Potter

The UK Human Development Institute is well represented at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Conference 2019, “Leading Change Together”. This year’s theme reflects the work being done across the AUCD network on research, policy, practice, and advocacy that impacts the broad spectrum of disability. With more than 1,000 attendees from across the US and Territories, this event attracts a diverse national audience of leaders from multiple disciplines, researchers, scientists, advocates, and policy experts. The AUCD Conference serves as a place to exchange ideas and celebrate accomplishments.
Learn more about the AUCD Conference and future dates and themes at www.aucd.org/conference/.
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