School of Education Grant to Benefit Disabled, At-Risk Children
CSU Dominguez Hills has received a five-year federal grant to recruit retirees and people considering a career change for work with children who are disabled or at-risk. The funds from the U.S. Department of Education, totaling $1,224,642, are allocated to the School of Education in collaboration with Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
The project carries a two-fold purpose: Identify highly motivated people who are seeking a rewarding professional experience, and offset the critical worker shortages in special education.
Doris M. Okada, professor of graduate education, and director, CSUDH Infant Toddler-Center, says that the program is designed for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and with disabilities, to teach early childhood special education programs. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
And, Okada says, the public is responding: Dozens of applications have been received from people whose backgrounds vary widely. They include aerospace retirees, former public school workers, nurses, a lawyer, and defense industry employees.
"We think we are ideally situated to tap a deep pool of wonderful talent to work in this vitally important area," Okada says. "Imagine being able to recruit people of amazingly diverse backgrounds, perhaps aerospace, or the military, or education, or sports, and other people who can make such a difference and connect them with children who need a helping hand. I think it's a special opportunity for the adults as well as the children."
Besides gearing to implement a high-quality interdisciplinary program, the project aims also to retain all trainees throughout the program in their first year of employment.
During each of the first two years of the project, 35 candidates will be admitted to the program, which includes individualized, hands-on practical experience in the field. Sites will include the CSUDH Infant-Toddler Center, Children's Hospital, and public and private sites in the community.
After completing the program, candidates will be eligible for an Early Childhood Special Education state credential and for a master's degree in special education.
- T.W.
