UCEDD Goals and Objectives
Goal One: Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Preparation – Interprofessional Education
Pre-service, graduate, and post-doctoral trainees will demonstrate increased knowledge and skills in the provision of services, supports and advocacy for people with disabilities.
Objective 1.1: To improve the service systems with an emphasis on health care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through the provision of interdisciplinary training and education to medical, allied health and related disability service professionals with a focus on chronic care.
Objective 1.2: To increase the cultural and linguistic competency of long-term interdisciplinary trainees at the MMI/UCEDD through didactic, clinical and community-based activities that focus on the delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
Objective 1.3: To increase the number and capacity of service providers in the area of intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan, chronic special health care needs and related disorders through MMI/UCEDD educational programs, with a specific emphasis focusing on the changing demographic needs of the state.
Goal Two: Professional Personnel Preparation and Continuing Education
Direct-care providers and agencies, adult care providers, educators, and state and community policy makers will receive pre-service training, continuing education and technical assistance regarding intellectual and developmental disabilities and chronic care needs to build capacity in home- and community-based services.
Objective 2.1: To build the capacity of direct-care workers, provider agencies and health care professionals through training and continuing education.
Objective 2.2: To increase the knowledge of individuals with disabilities, families, students, professionals and policymakers at all levels regarding the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families and how policy decisions affect their well-being and inclusion in their communities.
Objective 2.3: To improve services and supports to individuals with disabilities and their families through provision of technical assistance and consultation activities to disability services across the lifespan.
Goal Three: Community Service: Self Determination and Inclusive Communities
People with disabilities and their family members will increase their knowledge and skills to live, work and participate in accessible communities.
Objective 3.1: To increase the knowledge and skills and to develop leadership skills of individuals with disabilities and family members to navigate health, service, governmental, educational and community systems.
Objective 3.2: To build the capacity of individuals with disabilities to make informed and self-directed decisions for their lives and to become leaders in disability advocacy, and to prepare families and professionals to support individuals with disabilities in those advocacy activities.
Objective 3.3: To increase the capacity of individuals and family disability advocates to lead community and/or policy advocacy efforts to expand the availability and diversity of services, self-direct services and supports, and to advocate for inclusive and accessible communities.
Goal Four: Community Service: Health Promotion and Recreation
People with disabilities will live healthier and fuller lives through family-centered, culturally competent and accessible health care and recreational services in their communities, both urban and rural.
Objective 4.1: To assure access to health care for people with disabilities through the provision of interdisciplinary health services and supports.
Objective 4.2: To improve health and education outcomes for children with disabilities through early identification and assessment services and for adults with disabilities through the development of adult clinical services.
Objective 4.3: To provide age-appropriate, inclusive, therapeutic recreation experiences for people with disabilities across the lifespan through a combination of center, school and community based programs.
Goal Five: Community Service: Rural and Underserved Populations
Nebraskans living in rural and frontier (frontier counties???) counties and those from ethnic, cultural or linguistic minorities will be better able to access culturally competent services and supports for themselves or family members with a disability.
Objective 5.1: To enhance the understanding of all long-term MMI/UCEDD trainees regarding how culture and ethnicity impact health outcomes of people with disabilities. Long-term trainees are defined as having 299 or more hours of training.
Objective 5.2: The MMI/UCEDD will: conduct health clinics in rural counties; provide behavioral support services to families in rural locations; support and promote the development of disability advocacy efforts in rural communities across the state; and use telehealth technology to increase access to health care for rural children and adults with complex health care needs and provide on-site training for rural service providers.
Objective 5.3: The MMI/UCEDD will assist school districts, home visitation programs, adult services providers, managed care organizations and other service systems to provide early identification and coordinated interventions for individuals across the lifespan.
Goal Six: Information Dissemination - Collaboration and Consultation
The MMI/UCEDD, in collaboration with the DD Network (spell out?) and other community partners, will develop strategies and implement programs to enhance our joint advocacy, capacity building and systems change activities.
Objective 6.1: The MMI/UCEDD will collaborate on projects and activities that will lead to systems change, increased advocacy and/or improved services and supports for Nebraskans with disabilities.
Objective 6.2: The MMI/UCEDD will work with the DD Network, Nebraska Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, the Arc of Nebraska and other agencies and advocacy groups to expand legislative advocacy and policy.
Objective 6.3: The MMI/UCEDD will maintain existing community partnerships and build new relationships with organizations, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
Goal Seven: Information Dissemination
The MMI/UCEDD will develop and/or disseminate information that supports the meaningful inclusion, productivity and independence of people with disabilities.
Objective 7.1: To serve as an informational resource for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their family members, state agencies, other providers and advocacy organizations.
Objective 7.2: To develop and disseminate products that promote accessibility, inclusion, advocacy leadership and best practices. The principles of universal design will be utilized and products will be culturally accessible and available in multiple formats.
Goal Eight: Research and Evaluation
The MMI/UCEDD will conduct basic science research, clinical/translational research and program evaluation activities and disseminate those findings to effect meaningful change in health educational, economic and social/community outcomes for people with disabilities.
Objective 8.1: To improve understanding of the nature and causes of intellectual and developmental disabilities and the knowledge of treatment practices/outcomes through basic science and clinical research and disseminate those research findings.
Objective 8.2: To improve the quality of early intervention, education, child care, health, employment, independent living and transition services through the provision of needs assessments, program evaluation, and quality assurance services to local, state and federal agencies, schools and community organizations.
Objective 8.3: To promote the translation of research findings by presenting at professional conferences, developing and disseminating products and sharing policy analyses with government, professional and community stakeholders.