Training Program

The CDL provides short-term and long-term interdisciplinary training opportunities for individuals at the master’s, pre-doctoral, doctoral, post-doctoral, and professional levels. Our primary training initiatives are funded through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program. The CDL is also a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Research, Education, and Service (UCEDD) funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Traineeships/fellowships are offered in 12 disciplines of study and are designed to foster leadership skills in professionals and students in the areas of training, education, research, community-outreach, technical assistance, public policy, advocacy, systems administration, and clinical practice. The CDL training program is designed to assist trainees in gaining specific leadership competencies as well as to develop individualized interdisciplinary leadership skills. There are several components of the Training Program at the CDL including: a Core Course seminar series, Grand Rounds, Clinical Experiences, a Community Project, Self Paced Learning Modules, the Interdisciplinary Leadership Consortium and Various Workshops. Based on the type and length of traineeship, individuals will complete some or all of these components.

• Clinical Experiences – This component of the training program provides trainees with opportunities to apply discipline specific skills in an interdisciplinary environment. The interdisciplinary clinical experience is essential for CDL trainees to apply their knowledge of interdisciplinary teamwork. The clinical experience component can be completed within the various CDL clinical teams or at affiliated clinical community sites. Click here to view trainee comments of clinical experiences.

• Community Project – This component matches trainees with area community partners or CDL faculty to collaborate on an initiative/research project to enhance the trainee’s knowledge of public policy, advocacy, and systems administration. This experience provides trainees with an opportunity to experience program evaluation and/or interpret data that affects the health care field in the area of developmental disabilities.

• Core Course– A weekly didactic course that is designed to enhance the trainee’s knowledge and skills in the core MCH competencies. This course provides the opportunity for trainees to participate in discussions with leaders from community organizations, the university, and various clinical settings.

• Grand Rounds – A monthly lecture series with the goal of exposing CDL trainees and faculty to current clinical research. Grand Rounds is designed to make trainees and faculty aware of best practices and recent advancements in the health care field, especially in the area of developmental disabilities.

• MCH Leadership Training Consortium – Selected trainees are able to participate in this year-long experience that includes the other MCH funded training programs at UNC Chapel Hill. This is a leadership development program with a curriculum that includes the opportunity to explore personal leadership styles as well as focus on particular MCH competencies in the areas of conflict resolution, group facilitation, cultural competence, family/professional collaboration and peer coaching. The mission of this program is to train the next generation of leaders to better serve the MCH population.

• Self Paced Learning Modules –Content specific online learning modules relate to interdisciplinary themes in one or more of the core MCH competencies. Trainees are required to complete 1 module each semester to enhance individualized competencies in research and discipline specific information outside of his/her own discipline. Each module has specific learning objectives and ends with a short quiz for the trainee to measure his/her acquired knowledge from the module.

• Various Workshops – The CDL sponsors many workshops throughout the year available to trainees. Examples of workshop topics are: Cultural Competence, Leadership Assessments, Family/Professional Partnerships, Self Advocacy, Obesity Challenges, Overweight Challenges, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. The CDL also provides trainees research awards and conference reimbursement for various national trainings and seminars.

The primary purpose of the CDL Training Program is to prepare professionals for cutting-edge leadership roles that will allow them to direct and facilitate culturally/linguistically competent and family-centered interdisciplinary efforts—including systems change—to improve the health status of infants, children, and adolescents who have, or are at risk for developing neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and their families, with a strong emphasis being placed on leadership roles in community-based services and agencies. We strive to provide high-quality interdisciplinary education, which emphasizes the integration of services supported by state and local agencies, professional organizations, private providers, and communities.