Pictured from left to right is the 2014-15 Early Intervention
Certificate cohort: Shannon Lesnak, Ching-I Chen,
Ph.D., Kaitlyn Warren, Jenna Dodson, Ryan Buck,
Bridget Tompkins, Elizabeth Lattime, Phyllis Jadosh,
Yolanda Mahoney and Sanna Harjusola-Webb, Ph.D.

The Early Childhood Special Education program at Kent State University has received federal funds to prepare individuals at the master's degree level to work with families of infants and toddlers with disabilities in early intervention settings (home and community contexts). The program is designed for individuals with existing bachelor's degrees in special education and related fields (e.g., teacher licensure or certification), but all interested individuals are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be considered for the program.

Students in the program will receive:

• Full tuition support for one calendar year (fall, spring and summer semesters)
  
• Stipend, including the summer months
• iPad
  

The training opportunity is a one-year program designed to prepare future early intervention practitioners to:

• Provide developmentally appropriate, research-based strategies for infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities
• Provide empowering and capacity-building supports to their families
• Consult with a team of other professionals from related disciplines
• Apply evidence-based practices to promote positive outcomes for young children and families
  

A two-year service obligation is required for funded students after completion of the program. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and meet Kent State graduate school admission requirements.

Interested individuals can learn more about the program and complete the pre-application survey at
www.kent.edu/ehhs/ldes/sped/early-intervention-certificate by Friday, May 15, 2015.

For more information, please contact Sanna Harjusola-Webb, Ph.D., associate professor in Kent State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services, at shwebb@kent.edu, or Michelle Gatmaitan, project coordinator, at mgatmait@kent.edu.