Building For Tomorrow
The Early Learning Institute (TELI) has recently expanded partnerships with UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing and with the University of Pittsburgh’s Early Intervention Master’s Program to help students learn about child development in real life, non-medical environments.
It’s all part of a strategic plan implemented by TELI, whose mission is to help children aged birth to 5 realize their full potential through comprehensive, individualized early intervention and early childhood educations programs. TELI offers in-home services, day care and preschool programs, as well as socialization groups for nearly 1,600 children across Allegheny County annually.
“These partnerships help students from UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh meet their requirements and they also give TELI the opportunity to share knowledge and connect with future nurses who may work with our children in the years to come,” said Deborah Uram, MS/CCC, TELI’s Director of Early Intervention Programs. “Both partnerships allow students to apply their education with children of all abilities in a hands-on practical environment.”
The nursing students at UPMC Shadyside interact with children and assist teachers at one of three TELI preschool locations in Castle Shannon, Wilkins Township and Ohio Valley. As part of their experience, students document specific observations in a variety of settings between TELI students and teachers, as well as discuss health issues that may affect children in these age groups. Nursing students also plan special activities, such as a recent workshop on hand washing to combat the spread of the cold and flu. The UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing is one of five U.S. nursing schools to receive designation as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing.
While students enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh’s Early Intervention Master’s Program also spend the majority of their time in TELI’s preschool classrooms, they also visit children’s homes with TELI therapists. This kind of experience allows students to incorporate their book knowledge with interpersonal skills, components that are vital to an early intervention specialist’s future. These visits provide students with ample opportunity to work with children who have various levels of abilities and diagnoses.
“These partnerships are just two of the ways TELI collaborates with the community to provide innovative programming of the highest quality for our children,” said Kara Rutowski, TELI’s Executive Director. “TELI also actively engages with institutions of higher learning and medicine to advance knowledge and embrace evidence-based practice in the field of early intervention and early childhood education.”
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