Project BLENDS is pleased to announce that it has accepted six College of Health graduate students for the 2022-2023 school year:

• Jenifer Breiner, Master of Social Work
• Tanysha Battle, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
• Angela Pena, Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Heidi Tilicki, Master of Social Work
• Sara Hoedel, Master of Social Work
• Alexa Geider, Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Project BLENDS is an interdisciplinary, advanced training program designed to prepare graduates in four related service disciplines to work collaboratively to support infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children with high intensity social-emotional needs and their families. This 5-year initiative is supported by a $1.13 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs, which will help support 32 graduate students working toward an advanced degree in one of four programs: the Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, the Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and the Masters in Social Work.

“Each graduate program has its own competencies, accreditation standards and internship requirements. So to find a way in which we can add shared experiences to these really robust programs was tricky, but was really key,” says principal investigator Hattie Harvey, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology. “This is a good example that collaboration across colleges can be successful. Ultimately it’s for the benefit of preparing students to provide high-quality early childhood services. That's really what it’s all about.”

All scholars receive financial support for tuition, books, conference travel, and more. Applications for Cohort 2 will open on Nov. 1, 2022! For more information on Project BLENDS, you can fill out this form.