Community & Research Partners

The Community Advisory Council (CAC) for MN-LEND consists of member advisors recruited on the basis of their affiliations and experiences with children or adults who have neurodevelopmental disabilities. The CAC brings together the diverse experiences and training acumen of community partners conveyed through the perspectives of families, community service providers, MCH Title V leaders, parent and self-advocates, policy makers, advocacy agencies and caregivers committed to ensuring that a robust training curriculum, quality mentoring, and collaborative leadership experiences are extended to all LEND Fellows for the duration of their fellowship. The Council formally convenes a minimum of three times during the academic year, as well as by invitation to various MNLEND activities, sessions, and forums.

MNLEND consults and collaborates with many wider community and campus community partners. Many Fellows choose to serve these organizations with their LEND Projects and gain invaluable experiences working alongside community partners.

Partners include:

• Advocating For Change Together (ACT)
  Website: http://selfadvocacy.org/
• Arc Minnesota
  Website: https://arcminnesota.org/
• The Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM)
  Website: www.ausm.org
• Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
  Website: https://cascw.umn.edu/
• Center for Engaging Autism (CEA)
  Website: http://cea4autism.org
• Focus In NeuroDevelopment (FIND) Network
  Website: FIND.umn.edu
• Learn the Signs. Act Early Public Health campaign
  Website: https://ltsae.umn.edu/
• LEND/Institute on Community Integration Early Communication Intervention Telehealth Project
  Website: https://ici.umn.edu/news/telehealth
• Lionsgate Academy
  Website: http://lionsgate.academy/
• Minn-LInk Project
  Website: https://cascw.umn.edu/community-engagement-2/minn-link/
• Minnesota Autism Resource Portal
  Website: https://mn.gov/autism/
• Minneapolis Public Schools Early Childhood Screening Outreach Project
  Website: http://ece.mpls.k12.mn.us/
• Proof Alliance
  Website: https://www.proofalliance.org/
• Research and Training on Community Living (RTC/CL) at ICI  for a variety of research projects
  Website: http://rtc.umn.edu/
• Simons Powering Autism Research and Knowledge (SPARK)
  Website: https://sparkforautism.org/
• Somali Parent Autism Network (SPAN)
  Website: https://spanadvocacy.org/
• TIES Center at ICI
  Website: https://tiescenter.org
• University of Minnesota ASD and NDD Clinic
  Website: https://www.pediatrics.umn.edu/divisions/clinical-behavioral-neuroscience/division-sections/autism-clinic

NOTE: This list is not complete. Let us know if any information is incorrect or out-of-date by contacting Rebecca Dosch Brown at dosch018@umn.edu