New Mexico State University (NMSU) has been awarded a $1.25 million grant by the Office of Special Education Programs in the United States Department of Education for its Project RISE program. The program, which is part of NMSU's College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, aims to provide diverse early intervention training for infants, toddlers, and their families in New Mexico.
According to a press release by NMSU, the funding will support two cohorts comprising 24 scholars from diverse backgrounds. The program will train cohort members through NMSU's Early Childhood Education program to support infants and toddlers with disabilities, as well as those at risk for disabilities. Additionally, the program will introduce a multicultural early intervention concentration.
One of the motivations behind the Project RISE initiative is the need for highly qualified early intervention providers who can meet the specific needs of tribes, pueblos, and nations in New Mexico. In a tribal needs assessment conducted by New Mexico's Early Childhood Education and Care Department in 2022, it was found that these communities face challenges in recruiting and retaining such providers.
New Mexico currently lacks a formal certification in early childhood special education, which further highlights the need for programs like Project RISE. The initiative aims to recruit and prepare early intervention providers from underrepresented groups who are multilingual. This will equip them with the necessary skills to employ culturally sustaining practices in their early intervention services.
Monique Matute-Chavarria, Assistant Professor at the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, emphasized the importance of this program, stating, "We have a huge shortage of early interventionists specifically trained to meet the needs of our diverse populations in New Mexico." The Project RISE program aims to bridge this gap by training diverse and multilingual cohort members to deliver effective early intervention services to vulnerable populations, while also promoting inclusivity and cultural sensitivity.
Matute-Chavarria further highlighted the significance of diversity in early intervention services, stating, "In order to serve New Mexico's infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, it is critical that we prepare providers from diverse backgrounds."
The grant received by NMSU will play a crucial role in addressing the shortage of qualified early intervention providers and improving the quality of services for infants, toddlers, and their families in New Mexico. The Project RISE program is a step towards creating a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to early intervention services in the state.