New Retention Initiative March 1, 2023
During 2022, the Nevada Early Intervention (EI) Services system performed strategic planning to address critical personnel shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in the potential for delayed services for EI families. An additional option to traditional academia was developed in order to retain employees by assisting them in meeting their professional requirements. The Nevada EI Professional Development Center was created and legislatively funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds to facilitate this retention initiative of new professional development options, the first being a Developmental Specialist Core Series (DS Series) that will be provided at no cost to EI professional learners. The DS Series, which will begin during April 2023, will be comparably rigorous to current, traditional paths to EI educator licensure and will meet federal requirements for the EI Developmental Specialist position. The EI system continues to acknowledge and encourage traditional paths to licensure such as through institutions of higher education (IHE), however this option will provide relief to professional learners during this post-pandemic era of hardship which many are experiencing. Learn more about the Nevada EI Professional Development Center; Contact the Nevada Early Intervention Professional Developmental Center at: dhhsnevadaeipdcenter-ideapartcoffice@health.nv.gov