Lessons Learned

Abstract

This chapter outlines important lessons learned while implementing Marshall University's interdisciplinary personnel development program. Motivated by the intense needs of youth with disabilities in Appalachia and the shortage of qualified personnel to address these needs, the program employed evidence-based models to train school counselors, school psychologists, and special educators. Factors found to be essential include finding evidence-based interventions appropriate for all disciplines, early intense training, while acknowledging differences in entry skills and knowledge of interdisciplinary scholars, exposing scholars to a continuum of tiered school-based supports including working together across disciplines, modeling and attending to self-care of scholars, and acquiring partnerships for sustainability. These factors were important in successfully training the scholars to provide services to children with intensely complex social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Also included are suggestions for improving training based on the authors' reflections and feedback from scholars.