New Hampshire/Maine LEND and Maine DD Council Leadership in Action Placements

Leadership In Action Placements Partnership with Community Based Organization Partner organizations identify projects and provide supervisor for trainees. 60 to 70 hours. Mentorship from ILI faculty

LEND Leadership Competency Areas Leadership Continuing Education Technical Assistance Research Policy Cultural Competence

Steps in the Process Nancy and Alan meet to discuss LIA Placements: –Goals of LIA Placement –Needs of MDDC –Skills and Needs of Two Specific LEND Trainees Including Leadership Competencies

Steps in Process (2) Discussion of how LEND trainees could meet their leadership development needs while working with MDDC on Maine Strategic Plan and Act Early. Meeting with trainees, Alan and Nancy to ensure placement would meet needs of all involved. Finalize proposal for LIA placement.

Steps in Process – Orientation of Trainees to MDDC Project Overview of Goal Reviewed Past Activities Reviewed Process for Legislative Report Discussed politics of attendees

Maine DD Council Activities LEND Trainee Activities Worked with Nancy to plan state-wide meeting Maine ASD Strategic Plan and Act Early. Facilitated state-wide meeting of high level leaders in state government and advocacy to discuss: –Progress of current initiatives, and –Plan for improvements in services and supports for persons with ASD across the age span.

Maine DD Council Activities LEND Trainee Activities (2) Collected data at state-wide meeting and from incorporation into final ASD Report to the State Legislature and Commissioners of Maine DHHS, DOE, and DOL. Collected feedback data from parents for incorporation into report Transcribed data.

Competencies Addressed Leadership Policy Research

Value of Trainees In the Process Initiated and developed plan for obtaining input from all stakeholders (Affinity Diagrams). Helped “hone” in on most important topics and questions.

Letting Go When working with LEND Fellows (or anyone really) on projects of importance – one must trust the process and let go

More time needed for legislative advocacy Advocacy is an important part of the Maine/NH LEND Leadership curriculum. There was insufficient time for trainees to get involved in legislative advocacy activities that followed naturally from their work.

LEND and Transition Activities LEND trainee: –Participate in FCTP planning meetings; –Presented information on the project in public forums; –Conducted follow-up research on long-term outcomes; –Helped identify activities related to AT planning activities that could be incorporated into new sustainable project.