A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

The Training for Interprofessional Collaboration (TIC) Steering Committee is made up of faculty members, staff, and one student.

What types of interprofessional activities occur?

In the community:

Students enrolled in degree programs are divided into cohorts by discipline and they remain together as cohort members throughout the program. Each cohort meets in the community for a number of weeks during the planning stages of the project. The project that they plan is the on-site integration.

In the degree program:

Each student involved in the course is required to attend class weekly. The class is designed to teach students how to collaborate effectively.

How is the community served?

The service provided depends upon which project the cohort has decided to work. The cohorts are chosen based upon student interest and background. Care is taken to see that the cohorts are a "mixed bag" of professional areas. The members of the class meet for a number of weeks, learning about how to effectively provide integrated services for children and families. Then the group splits and the cohorts meet in the community with community members and it is then that they decide on a project that they will endeavor to pursue.

How do schools participate?

Schools (in the South Central School District and the Central School District) participate as the sites for cohort projects. Schools are also active in helping cohorts decide what kind of projects to pursue, given that they are major stakeholders in the collaboration.

How long has the interprofessional development program been operating?

The program has been in existence for three years. This is the last year of external funding for the project, which has been billed as a pilot project for the University. Project staff is working to see that the program is institutionalized.

What clinical experiences are offered?

Each student involved in the class receives clinical experience through his or her own school (Nursing, Social Work, Education, etc). Involvement in the class helps students to decide upon clinical experiences that are related to their class experience.

How is the program evaluated?

There is a very strong evaluation team made up of two faculty members (steering committee members), and two research assistants. The evaluation of the program has helped in very substantive ways to improve the program. For example, in year one the course was all didactic. Evaluation results revealed that there was need for some practical experience. In year two, the evaluation results revealed that each cohort needed to be exposed to a practitioner, which lead to having one of the cohort guides being a practitioner and one being a faculty member.

Contact Person:

Richard Brandon
Executive Director, Human Services Policy Center
324 Parrington Hall DC-14
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543-8483 (Phone)

[Appendix A:]

[ATE Commission on Leadership in Interprofessional Education: Texas A & M University: College Station, Texas]