WVU CED Awarded National Training Grant

The West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (WVU CED) was awarded a national training grant to implement Project SCOPE: Supporting Children of the OPioid Epidemic (SCOPE). Project SCOPE is a training initiative intended to identify and train practitioners in current and emerging knowledge and evidence-based promising practices in screening, monitoring, and care for children diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) or neonatal opiate withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), or who are suspected of being impacted by opioid use and related trauma exposure.

The CED has received funding to implement this national training initiative using the Project ECHO ™ virtual professional development model. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a collaborative model of education and care management that empowers clinicians to implement best practices wherever they live. The ECHO model™ increases access to rural and underserved areas by providing knowledge and support.

Project SCOPE uses a model where interdisciplinary team members from education, medical and community settings collaborate to provide didactic and case presentations to provide an opportunity to problem solve with peers across the state.

“The CED is looking forward to launching our first session later this month. The curriculum developed by the University of Cincinnati and the Nisonger Center will be modified and delivered by West Virginia’s team of experts who have signed on to partner with us to deliver the training series,” said Dr. Lesley Cottrell, director of the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

The WV Project SCOPE Echo Series will launch on January 19 and continue monthly through September 2021. Participants can attend one, several or all sessions.

The program’s goal is to provide the evidence-based training to physicians, nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, home visitors, teachers, counselors, early childhood providers, students, and families. “In addition to the continuing education benefits for providers, we believe that bringing these groups together will help providers and families learn from each other and build relationships across school, home, community and medical settings,” said Dr. Cottrell.

To learn more or register for this free, training opportunity visit www.wvimpact.org/scope.