Campus to Community at Mount Ida
This program brings the Campus to Community Respite Care Program to the Mount Ida campus of UMass Amherst.
Now recruiting pre-health students to participate in a spring and/or summer program in which you learn about providing health care to people with disabilities, receive hands on training and professional development, and provide 100 hours of paid respite care to a family raising a child with medical complexity or person with an intellectual or developmental disability.
Program director: Ashley Woodman, Ph.D.
Email: awoodman@umass.edu
Office hours: book an appointment
What is the purpose of this program?
The purpose of this program is to provide targeted coursework, training, and experience to better prepare the next generation of health care providers to provide high quality health care services to people with disabilities. People with disabilities were recently categorized as a population facing health disparities (NIH, 2023). Though many factors contribute to these health disparities, lack of disability-specific knowledge and experience among health care providers plays a significant role.
Who can participate?
Undergraduate students interested in careers in health care or disability services, broadly defined, are invited to apply. This program is intended for students from all majors except nursing. No prior disability-related experience or coursework is expected. In accordance with UMass guidelines, students should have a GPA of at least 2.0 and 30 college credits to participate in the internship component of the program. Students must be able to pass a criminal background check (CORI) to participate in the program.
The Campus to Community at Mount Ida Program is dedicated to the training, professional development, and success of all our students, and we are committed to upholding the campus values of diversity, equity and inclusion on the UMass campus and beyond. First-generation students and students from groups historically underrepresented in medicine are highly encouraged to apply.
Where will this program take place?
The courses, simulation training, and professional development will take place in person at the Mount Ida campus of UMass Amherst (Newton, MA). Housing is available at the standard fees, though residency at Mount Ida is not a requirement for participation in the program.
The field experience will take place in families’ homes within a 30-minute commute of the Mount Ida campus (or another Boston-area “home base”). Students will be reimbursed for mileage on their own vehicles or receive financial support for ZipCar, Uber, Lyft, or public transit.
What are the components of the program?
There are three key components to the program. Students are expected to participate in all components of the program, unless special circumstances apply.
Seminar: Disability and Health Care (PSYCH 391DC)
In this seminar, students will explore a variety of topics related to disability and health care. Students will learn to challenge the pathology model of disability widespread among medical providers and medical institutions. Students will learn how to integrate elements of the social model of disability, the neurodiversity paradigm, disability justice and other disability-affirming paradigms in their careers as health care providers. Students will learn about health care disparities experienced by disabled people and unpack its root causes.
Professional Development: Community Service Learning (PSYCH 191M)
Students will receive professional development on topics related to providing home-based health care, respite care, and working with people with disabilities more generally.
Students will receive three nationally recognized credentials, including certifications in CPR and First Aid from the American Red Cross, Mental Health Youth First Aid from the National Council for Mental Well-Being, and the Respite Care Provider Training from the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center.
Additional training topics include:
- Providing care in home settings
- Experiences of families raising children with disabilities
- Providing trauma-informed care
- Practicing cultural humility
- Effective communication strategies
- Responding to challenging behavior
- Planning developmentally appropriate and accessible activities
- Collaborating with families and keeping records
Students will also participate in hands-on training with simulation equipment. Students will receive guidance, supervision, and feedback from nurses and pediatricians specializing in providing care to children with medical complexity in home settings. Training will target the “enhanced care services” provided by complex care assistants in Massachusetts. This training is for professional development only, as students will not be authorized to perform these tasks in their roles as respite care providers.
- Enteral G-tube/J-tube feedings
- Skin care including application of OTC products or routine G-tube/J-tube care
- Oxygen therapy
- Oral (dental) suction to remove superficial oral secretions
- Ostomy and catheter care
- Modified meal preparation
- Equipment management and maintenance (wheelchair, CPAP/BiPAP, oxygen and Respiratory care equipment) and paperwork
- Braces, splints, and/or pressure stockings
- Transportation to medical providers / pharmacy
- Incidental services
Field experience: Respite Care for Families of Children with Medical Complexity (PSYCH 398DD)
The final, but critical, component of the program is applying course content and professional skills to 100 hours of practical experience providing respite care to a family raising a child with medical complexity. Students will be matched to one or more families.
Matches will be based on both student and family preferences, interests/hobbies, allergies, and schedules as well as student skill and comfort levels. Some students may be matched with more than one family, depending on family and student interest and availability. Students are expected to complete 100 hours of respite care throughout the semester. Students and families will arrange their own schedules. Some families and students may prefer full-time weekly placements, weekend placements, or shorter placements on a weekly basis throughout the summer – or some combination thereof. These preferences will be taken into consideration during the initial matching process but are also subject to negotiation between the students and families. Communicating directly with families about scheduling is a critical aspect of professional development.
Who are the instructors?
Disability and Health Care (PSYCH 391DC) is taught by Lindsay Demers, Ph.D. Dr. Demers presently serves as the Director of the Department of Medicine Education Evaluation Core at Boston University.
The professional development course is taught by the program director, Ashley Woodman, Ph.D. Dr. Woodman is the Director of the Developmental Disabilities and Human Services program at UMass Amherst. Additional guest speakers from the Boston area will come to our course.
The field experience is coordinated by the program director, Ashley Woodman. Families are referred to the program through programs specializing in supporting the health care needs of children with medical complexity.
Questions?
Contact the program director by email or sign up for office hours.