Prematurity and Atypical Development Professional Learning Series
This site is designed to equip early intervention professional learning facilitators with the information and materials needed to deliver a 5-module training series on prematurity and atypical development.
Modules may be delivered one at a time (taking approximately 1 hour to deliver each module) or all together during a single 4-6 hour professional learning event.
Module Objectives
Module I: The ABCs and 123s of Prematurity
- Objective 1: To become aware of prematurity rates for the United States and Maryland.
- Objective 2: To become familiar with statistics related to infant mortality and morbidity for the United States and Maryland.
Along the way, participants will learn some important definitions related to prematurity and birthweight.
Module II: Diagnoses Associated with Prematurity and Developmental Implications
- Objective 1: To develop an understanding of diagnoses associated with prematurity.
- Objective 2: To become familiar with the potential developmental impact of the diagnoses.
- Objective 3: To understand the importance of developmental monitoring.
- Objective 4: To learn about NICU Follow-Up programs and their role as a linkage service.
Module III: Understanding and Using Adjusted Age With Infants Born Prematurely
- Objective 1: To understand COMAR changes related to adjusted age that went into effect on July 1, 2013.
- Objective 2: To learn how to calculate adjusted age.
Module IV: A Potpourri of Interventions for After the NICU
-
Objective 1: To learn ways to help parents foster the development of their premature infant following discharge from the NICU, which includes:
- Teaching parents how to read and respond to their baby’s approach, coping, and avoidance signals;
- Educating parents about the importance of back to sleep and tummy time;
- Showing parents how to massage their baby to facilitate relaxation; and
- Providing anticipatory guidance to foster development of upcoming skills.
Module V: Atypical Development—Increasing Awareness
- Objective 1: To understand that atypical development may adversely impact the overall development of all infants and toddlers (those born prematurely, full-term, with complex medical histories, and those who have always been healthy).
- Objective 2: To become familiar with characteristics of atypical development across multiple areas of development.
- Objective 3: To recognize when atypical development warrants further evaluation and/or early intervention services.
Technical Difficulties?
If you require technical support, please complete this online form or call (443) 872-9265.
MSDE Suitable Qualifications
The Maryland State Department of Education/Division of Special Education and Early Intervention Services/Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program has preapproved the Prematurity and Atypical Development Modules for Early Intervention Suitable Qualifications contact hour credits. See the documents loaded below for more information, as well as the individual training verification forms provided in each module under "Handouts."
Acknowledgements
The training modules presented on this site were developed by Brenda Hussey-Gardner, PhD, MPH at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Special thanks to Dr. Hussey-Gardner for sharing her work and for her dedication to serving Maryland's young chidren and their families. Funding was provided through a U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs IDEA Part C grant awarded to the Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.