A team from the College of Health and Human Sciences recently earned a $112,000 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) sub-award as part of the Education and Training to Support the Northern Illinois Region Bringing Simulation to the Community application. This effort, led by Beverly Henry, Michael Kushnick and Kristen Selig, relies on great collaboration with the School of Family and Consumer Sciences, the Child Development and Family Center (CDFC), the Simulation Center in the School of Nursing, and the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development.
“Through this grant, we are able to purchase equipment to implement realistic simulation scenarios that we developed by working together as an interprofessional team to train early childhood education professionals,” said Henry, interim dean of the college and director of the Ph.D. in Health Sciences program. “The simulation scenarios – unique in early childhood courses – aim to support professional development for health, safety, and wellness in early childhood education.
In late February, the team started the pilot program in the in the campus Child Development and Family Center that involved students enrolled in the Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) Practicum in infant and child development. After reviewing the results of the pilot, Henry said they plan to roll out the program to include other students enrolled in courses across the college and select sites in the early childhood education community.
“This project aligns with NIU’s active engagement in the state-wide initiative to improve early childhood education in Illinois and improve quality child care services,” Henry said.
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