The Boggs Center Interdisciplinary Traineeship is a flexible, individualized learning opportunity available to students enrolled in a degree-granting program at any institution of higher education in New Jersey. The traineeship can be tailored to fit internship or field requirements from academic programs and can be scheduled for a minimum of 40 to over 300 hours across a semester or academic year. No academic credits are available for participation in the traineeship. Stipends might be available, depending on funding.

NJLEND is a specific Traineeship experience at The Boggs Center open to graduate students, family members, practicing professionals, and individuals with disabilities who are interested health and health policy for children and adults with autism and related disabilities and their families. NJLEND is a structured, year-long training experience that includes a weekly didactic seminar held on Fridays from 9am – 3pm. On a case-by-case basis, LEND trainees might receive academic credit – or fulfill other requirements of their academic program through participation. LEND trainees receive stipends upon successful completion of programmatic requirements.

No. NJLEND is a graduate-level leadership training program. However, undergraduate trainees at The Boggs Center may have the opportunity to take part in the NJLEND program through the Interdisciplinary Traineeship.

No. Adults who have a developmental disability, family members of a person with a developmental disability, and practicing professionals who work with children and/or adults with developmental disabilities are able to participate in LEND.

The main difference between the long term-traineeship and the intermediate traineeship is the time commitment each requires. The traineeship requirements and activities, as well as the student stipend, will vary accordingly.

The long-term traineeship requires a time commitment of 300 hours or more, generally spread across a full academic year. Long Term Trainees must be available on Fridays during the Fall and Spring semester to participate in LEND didactic sessions.

The medium-term traineeship requires between 40-299 hours and can span one or two semesters.

NJLEND trainees who are not full-time employees of Rutgers or Children’s Specialized Hospital, and who are residents of the US, are eligible to receive a stipend. The stipend, paid in quarterly increments, is based on trainee level. Masters-level students, family members and self-advocate stipends are set at $6000 and doctoral-level student stipends are set at $8000. Stipend amounts are subject to change, based on funding and number of trainees participating in LEND each year.

NJLEND follows the academic calendar and spans a full academic year. LEND begins in September and ends in early May, with an orientation often scheduled in August. The LEND program mostly follows the Rutgers calendar for breaks (December; spring break) and holidays (Thanksgiving). In January, NJLEND usually resumes meeting a week earlier than the start of the Rutgers spring semester in order to maximize our sessions and end prior to the University commencement and graduation events.

NJLEND begins in September, aligned with the Rutgers fall semester. However, in some years, an orientation is scheduled during the summer to welcome the cohort and prepare for the year together. Paperwork and NJLEND self-assessments will also be sent out during the summer months for completion prior to the start of the LEND program in September.

Not regularly. NJLEND activities are primarily scheduled during normal business hours, Monday – Friday, from 9am – 5pm. Occasionally, evening and weekend meetings, clinics, or events might be of interest to NJLEND trainees and can be attended as part of the LEND experience.

No.

The majority of time in NJLEND will be spent in didactic sessions, learning with and from other LEND trainees, NOT in clinical settings working directly with individuals with disabilities. However, each NJLEND cohort of trainees will include family members and individuals with disabilities. In addition, several of the required LEND activities involve spending time with individuals with disabilities and their families or observing professionals providing services and supports to individuals with disabilities.

Past student projects have taken a variety of forms and have included developing and conducting surveys or focus groups; conducting a literature review; developing a product or materials to meet an identified need; and participation on a research study team.

For a description of past student projects, see NJLEND & Boggs Center Trainee Leadership Posters

There is no Boggs Center faculty or staff who can provide clinical supervision for a MSW or PhD student. The Boggs Center may be able to accommodate a clinical MSW student by arranging for clinical supervision with an affiliated faculty member at the Rutgers School of Social Work, but there are not opportunities for sustained clinical interactions through The Boggs Center.

While transportation is not required to participate in NJLEND, it is very helpful for trainees to have access to a car. Some Friday didactic sessions may be held in person and trainees would need to be able to travel to The Boggs Center in New Brunswick to attend. In addition, NJLEND requires attendance at several off-site meetings and/or events in other parts of the state (e.g. mentor family meetings).

NJ Transit trains and bus lines do operate in New Brunswick, near The Boggs Center, and can be a good alternative for travel to/from The Center.

Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH), the primary clinical partner of NJLEND, requires several clearances in order for trainees to be approved to observe/participate in clinical learning opportunities in-person as CSH sites. These clearances are conducted outside of The Boggs Center. During the summer, accepted trainees will receive forms from CSH for them to participate in or obtain proof of the following: a general criminal history background check (at no cost to the trainees); The Central Registry of Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities check (at no cost to the trainees); and a medical attestation and health review, which will include a physical exam, tuberculosis (TB) infection screening, proof of immunity, and proof of vaccination from a primary care provider. At this time, CSH is requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccine as well as seasonal flu vaccine to participate in in-person observational experiences.