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Occupational Therapy ProgramEarly Intervention Specialization Program (EISP)
EISP is a 4 year federally funded training program for selected students in the Occupational Therapy Program at SUNY Downstate. The final cohort will be comprised of 8 students who began the Occupational Therapy Program in June 2010. Although we will be applying for future funding for enriched training in early childhood intervention, we cannot guarantee that these funds will be granted to benefit students who begin the OT Program in 2011 and later.
The SUNY Downstate Occupational Therapy Program has received substantial funding, over a four-year period [2008-2012], from the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, to implement an Early Intervention Specialization Program for currently enrolled Occupational Therapy students (EISP). Dr. Margaret Kaplan and Dr. Beth Elenko direct this exciting program. We received previous funding [2004-2009] for a five- year Early Intervention Certificate Program for Occupational Therapists (EICP-OT) where 75 practicing occupational therapists received advanced training in Early Intervention. The EISP provides current SUNY Downstate occupational therapy students with advanced, multi-disciplinary education to prepare them for specialized occupational therapy practice with young children and their families. The New York State Department of Health, Early Intervention Program, recognizes the completion of this advanced level, multi-disciplinary program as fulfillment of criteria for provisional approved provider status in New York State. Four cohorts of 8 students each year will complete the EISP during the four-year project. The first cohort began the Specialization program in Fall of 2008. The grant is funded until 2012. Each cohort of 8 occupational therapy students will complete five courses including a family partnership experience and mentoring fieldwork over one year. Courses and practicum experiences are scheduled within the existing occupational therapy curricula. Accepted students receive tuition stipends to facilitate their participation in the program. Occupational therapy practice in Early Intervention requires advanced level knowledge, skills, and supervised clinical fieldwork beyond what entry-level professional programs can offer. This award from the United States Department of Education enables the Occupational Therapy Program at SUNY Downstate to prepare students and thus improve access to quality Early Intervention services for children and families. What you get from participating in this program Each student receives a stipend of $16, 250. This is a stipend paid directly to the student, which is considered by the government as taxable income. We split the stipend payment into two equal payments over two tax years to minimize the tax effect. One payment is in the Fall semester and one in the following Spring semester Enhanced coursework and fieldwork in the specialty area of early intervention (working with children birth to 3 and their families Ability to apply for NYS provider approval in early intervention earlier than most OT's.. NYS requires OT's to have a minimum of 2 years of experience with infants and young children in order to apply to be an approved provider and provide home based services.
Issues to be aware of due to participation in this program The EISP student stipend is taxable and will affect yearly taxable income EISP graduates will be eligible for NYS Licensure following the official graduation date of May 31 of the year they complete the Early Intervention Advanced Fieldwork (this is 5 months later than their fellow students). However, EISP graduates will be eligible to apply for a Limited Permit after the CHRP Committee on Academic Standing informs the Office of the Registrar that the EISP graduates have completed all requirements for graduation. A person who is granted a limited permit is authorized to practice occupational therapy only under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist or a licensed physician and shall practice only in a public, voluntary, or proprietary hospital, health care agency or in a preschool or an elementary or secondary school for the purpose of providing occupational therapy as a related service for a handicapped child. EISP graduates will not march in Commencement with their graduating class. They will march in the following May commencement. EISP graduates can attend the honor ceremony, Convocation, with their class mates EISP students will finish with the Early Intervention Advanced Fieldwork 2-3 months later than others in their class will be finished with their Fieldwork II. EISP students can register to take the NBCOT national registration exam when they are ready after they have completed all the requirements for the degree (all coursework and fieldwork and have been presented to the Academic Standing Committee for graduation) There is a service obligation that requires each EISP graduate to provide services to children (birth to 21) with disabilities for 2 years after completion of your program and degree (see service obligation form for details). The EISP CurriculumSUNY – DOWNSTATE Master of Science Program in Occupational Therapy Curriculum EISP Core Coursework is in Blue Courses currently in the OT program curriculum that address knowledge important to practice in Early Intervention in bold with explanation of relevant content
Summary of CoursesOTMS 6312: Family Perspectives and Family Centered Practice- 1 credit Summer Students will learn the basics of the early intervention process from its historical underpinnings to practical guidelines to practice in a variety of early intervention settings. This course will begin with an ONLINE experience with practical assignments and papers, bulletin board discussion groups, and e-mail communication. This will be followed by 3 seminars and the beginning of the family partnership experience which will begin in conjunction with this course.
OTMS 6313: Collaboration and Teaming- 1 credit Fall This course will promote the understanding of family-centered intervention, natural environments including building on the ONLINE course topics such as culture, boundaries and communication strategies to work with families and collaboration with the early intervention team. A major focus of this course will also be on cross-cultural and language competence including linguistic diversity in the urban, high poverty area. Students will be provided with exposure to techniques to communicate with culturally diverse population who speak different languages. Collaboration and Teaming will include 4 seminars, 6 hours of family partnership experience, practical assignments with mentor and papers. Students may have the opportunity to observe home visits this semester to assist with practical assignments. Family Partnership Experience: Students will continue to engage in the family partnership experience for 6 hours during this semester. The student will develop informational materials helpful for their family. The purpose of this assignment is to creatively develop materials in a family friendly format to assist family in relevant topics to their needs. Mentoring Process begins in this course. Each student will be assigned a mentor in this semester. The mentor will be an occupational therapist with at least 2 years of experience in providing early intervention services in natural environments. The mentor will also be experienced in providing culturally sensitive, family centered collaboration and able to integrate intervention into family routines. OTMS 6314: Assessment of Young Children and Families- 1.5 credits Spring Students will learn how to choose, administer and document appropriate assessment tools required by New York City Early Intervention to determine eligibility for occupational therapy services. The course will include quantitative and qualitative measures of assessment. The course will cover how to evaluate and document progress and share information with families in their natural environments, as well as evaluating, recommending initial and changes in frequency, duration and discharge of services. Assessment will be taught in 6 seminars, 10 hours of family partnership experience to complete a community project, practical assignments and papers. Family Partnership Experience: Students will continue to engage in the family partnership experience for 10 hours during this semester. Students will complete a community project for the family based on their need. After getting to know the family’s routines and interests, students will provide specific recommendations to help the family access and participate in community resources. Mentoring Process will continue in this course The mentor will continue to collaborate with the student on assignments and the family experience throughout the coursework. Students will have the opportunity to observe assessments this semester either with their mentor, through the Infant and Child Learning Center at SUNY Downstate or another OT. OTMS 6315: Intervention within family routines: Sensory, Feeding and Motor Control- 3.5 credits Spring Students will learn how to provide intervention to infants and young children and their families with sensory processing, feeding and motor control issues. The course will cover diagnostic information, developmental progression, and treatment strategies for these populations in their natural environments. Intervention will be taught over 6 seminars, case- studies, practical assignments and papers. Students will simultaneously begin their Advanced Fieldwork in Early Intervention, and seminars will also be utilized to discuss fieldwork experience. OTMS 6316: Advanced Fieldwork in Early Intervention- 4 credits Spring Students will participate in a supervised fieldwork. You will be supervised by your mentor and will occur in natural environments (home and community settings) and requires a full time equivalency period of 6 weeks or 200 hours. In partnership with your mentor, the student will design a contract that specifies the schedule and the tasks that both agree to address. These will be chosen from the self competency or other tasks/competencies that are specific to the needs and setting. The Pre-fieldwork meeting will be used to identify these tasks/competencies and design strategies to achieve these tasks. The mentor will directly observe the student, providing feedback on the student’s learning and skills, and discuss the strategies and outcomes of the student’s experiences to assist in problem solving alternative strategies. The Post-fieldwork meeting will be used to discuss the achievement of the tasks and competencies specified in the contract and to give qualitative feedback to the student. Students will begin to engage in the OT Connection's EISP online Peer network through AOTA. Please join us by signing up for EISP Online Peer Network on AOTA's OTConnections to network and share with other OT's and students who are interested in providing quality family -centered services to infants and young children. If it does not link directly to OT Connections, go to http://otconnections.aota.org/. After you sign up for OT Connections, search for EISP Online Peer Network and begin networking with us! Please continue to check this website for further details about this program, and any changes to the courses and schedules.
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