TRIAD Early Intervention Professional Development Opportunities 2026-2027

Dates: Fridays Oct. 2nd - Nov. 6th - Dec. 4th - Jan. 15th - Feb. 19th
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm CST / 12:00pm – 1:30pm EST
Location: Online
Continuing Education credit: 1.5 hours per webinar
Audience: Early Intervention Providers

Take a break from your lunch routine and join us for these interactive webinar series designed especially for early intervention providers! In just 90 minutes, you'll gain practical, ready-to-use strategies on topics like strengthening caregiver-child relationships, writing meaningful and functional goals, toileting strategies, and understanding the basics of behavior—all while connecting with colleagues through engaging discussions, polls, and real-life case examples. Whether you're looking for fresh ideas or a mid-day boost of inspiration, these sessions will leave you energized and ready to put what you've learned into practice. And that's not all...we've got an exciting shake-up on the way with the debut of a brand-new podcast featuring real stories, practical tips, and conversations you won't want to miss. Stay tuned!

This professional development opportunity is sponsored by the Tennessee Early Intervention System and is available to all early intervention providers at no-cost to participants.

Webinar Series: Foundations of Learning
A Collaborative Learning Series for Early Intervention Providers

Join providers from across Tennessee for a seven-session series designed to strengthen your understanding of complex behaviors, how children learn and how to effectively support caregivers of young children with autism.

This interactive series focuses on the foundations of behavior and learning through a practical, family-centered approach. Participants will build confidence in recognizing the relationship between antecedents, behavior, and consequences. Understand the functions of behavior and learn to identify appropriate replacement behaviors. Increase knowledge in evidence-based strategies to support caregivers in promoting communication, engagement, social interaction, and positive learning opportunities within everyday routines.

What to Expect:

• Attend seven 90-minute live, interactive webinar sessions.
• Collaborate with colleagues from across Tennessee through discussion and case study analysis.
• Complete brief asynchronous learning activities between sessions to reinforce key concepts.
• Receive individualized monthly coaching calls to support implementation and problem-solving in real-world practice.
• Apply evidence-based strategies to support young children with autism and empower caregivers through effective coaching.

Whether you are new to early intervention or looking to deepen your skills, this collaborative learning experience provides practical tools, peer support, and ongoing coaching to help you confidently support children and families in achieving meaningful outcomes.

Dates: Sept. 25 - Oct. 23 – Nov. 20 – Dec. 18 – Jan. 22 – Feb. 26 – March 19
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am C.S.T
Format: Live Zoom webinars + individual coaching
Audience: Early Intervention Providers (home visitors, developmental therapists, early childhood specialists, etc.)
Cohort Size: Limited to ensure high engagement and individualized support

Strengthen your coaching skills. Support families with confidence. Make a lasting impact.

Vanderbilt TRIAD, in partnership with the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), is pleased to offer a dynamic, three‑month professional development experience for Early Intervention providers. This coaching partnership is designed to build confidence and competence in coaching caregivers using evidence‑based strategies to address dangerous or concerning behavior in young children.

Participants will engage in two individualized, goal‑driven coaching cycles, each centered on a child and family with whom they already provide Developmental Therapy. Through guided practice, reflection, and collaboration, Early Interventionists will deepen their ability to support caregivers in real‑world contexts.

What participants can expect:

• Direct observation and review of recorded sessions with the same family
• Individual reflection and feedback sessions with a TRIAD coach and peer partner
• Opportunities to review peer sessions and practice giving supportive feedback
• A learning community experience with two large‑group and two small‑group virtual meetings focused on caregiver coaching goals and shared resources

Coaching focus areas include:

• Increasing knowledge and use of evidence‑based strategies for unsafe behavior
• Identifying the function of behavior and teaching meaningful replacement skills
• Supporting functional communication and reducing unsafe behaviors through caregiver coaching

Participants from our 2025–2026 cohorts reported:

• Just 7 hours over three months—including regularly scheduled developmental therapy sessions
• 100% reported increased confidence coaching families to reduce challenging behavior
• 100% reported the knowledge and skills gained could be applied to at least 50% of the families on their caseload
• Children showed meaningful improvements: 100% reduced intensity, 80% reduced frequency, and 60% shorter duration of challenging behaviors

Cohort Options:

• Cohort 1: September–December 2026
• Cohort 2: January–April 2027

(Participants may apply for one or both cohorts; limited availability may impact selection.)

Who should apply:

Early Interventionists with at least one year of experience coaching families in TEIS who are ready to engage in reflective practice, video‑based coaching, and collaborative learning.

Applicants should come ready with a family in mind whose child displays unsafe (e.g., hitting, biting, self‑injury, or intense meltdowns) or concerning (i.e., behaviors that inhibit engagement or participation in services or leisure activities) behaviors. This child does not need an autism diagnosis to participate.

Applications are due August 31, 2026.

Vanderbilt’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD), in collaboration with the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), proudly presents the TRIAD Early Intervention Communication Academy—a dynamic professional development opportunity designed specifically for early intervention providers.

This innovative program is tailored to support Early Interventionists in enhancing their skills and confidence when working with early communicators. Through evidence-based strategies and hands-on coaching techniques, participants will gain the tools they need to make a lasting impact on the children and families they serve.

Program Goals
The Communication Academy is designed to:

• Increase knowledge and use of evidence-based supports for early communicators.
• Strengthen interventionists’ ability to coach caregivers in implementing these strategies effectively.

What You’ll Gain
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Apply the four stages of early communication to guide developmentally appropriate session targets.
• Empower caregivers with knowledge and resources that connect communication goals to meaningful outcomes.
• Recommend tailored strategies based on each child’s communication stage.
• Develop actionable coaching plans to support caregivers in selecting and applying effective communication strategies.