Project TRAIN: Training Rural Area Interventionists to meet Needs

Abstract

Project TRAIN is a federally funded, personnel preparation grant that is housed in the Early Childhood: Exceptional Educational Needs training program in the Department of Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The grant, which was funded under time rural competition, provides preservice training at the graduate level for early intervention professionals interested in working in rural areas with infants and toddlers who have special needs and with the families of these children. This article includes a description of Project TRAIN in terms of rationale, purposes, and expected outcomes. The Project TRAIN competencies within the context of the roles and skills needed to provide quality intervention, and SIGNAL, which is a performance-based evaluation instrument for guiding professional development, are described. Additionally, the competency-based training program is highlighted.