In this experience, trainees spend about 15-20 hours connecting meaningfully with a family in which at least one of the members is a child with a neurodevelopmental disability. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, these connections will all be made virtually.

As much as is possible with remote communication, host families will give trainees an “up close and personal” view of family life. These times together can take place via Zoom or Facetime call or other means. They can take place at home, at visits to doctors or other health care professionals, at schools or in community settings where host families spend their time.

The primary purpose of this activity is to enable trainees to get to know a family at a personal level, which in turn should help them become more sensitized to the circumstances that families encounter in the course of raising their children.

In order to be selected as a host family, you must be:

• Able to attend a short orientation session.
• Willing to open your lives to a LEND trainee in virtual ways, such as letting them visit via Zoom or Facetime call or tag along to remote IEP meetings or telehealth sessions.
• Willing to allow your trainee to take pictures or short video clips that will be included in a reflection assignment (will not be shared beyond the confines of the LEND learning experience).

Once your trainee has completed this experience, you will receive $400 as a token of our gratitude for your participation. If you are interested in shaping the family-centered perspective of an up-and-coming professional, please complete the application below and return to:

Stephanie Kaznica, LEND Coordinator
skaznica@udel.edu (email)

Please follow the links below for more information and an application.  Feel free to share with someone who may be interested!

www.cds.udel.edu/lend

LEND Family Application (pdf)