EIDBI Learning Collaborative

Purpose

The EIDBI Learning Collaborative:

• Provides a forum to discuss current practices, challenges and emerging research.
• Promotes collaboration among providers, researchers, educators and other interested parties.
• Shares data trends to inform service delivery and improve outcomes for children and families.
• Supports DHS in identifying opportunities to expand access and strengthen quality within the EIDBI benefit.

Meetings

The collaborative meets monthly. Meeting agendas typically include research and policy updates, discussion of data trends and opportunities for members to share resources or promising practices.

Nonmembers may occasionally attend as observers or guest contributors when their expertise or perspective is relevant to the topic.

For more information about meeting schedules, email the DHS autism team.

Membership

DHS has intentionally limited membership in the Learning Collaborative to support balanced representation and meaningful participation.

• Selection process: DHS chooses members through an application process based on their experience, perspective and alignment with the collaborative’s goals.
• Terms: Members may serve a one- or two-year term.
• Applications: Open each fall, with new terms beginning the following year.
• Guest participation: Nonmembers may attend select meetings as observers or guest contributors.

Regional and topical focus groups

If interest or application volume exceeds available seats, DHS might form regional or topical focus groups. These groups:

• Meet independently.
• Select a representative to report back to the core learning collaborative.
• Provide a way to ensure broader engagement while maintaining manageable discussions in the monthly collaborative meetings.

Public input

Although the collaborative is a working group with limited seats, DHS welcomes input from all interested parties through other channels, including:

• Public surveys.
• Open meetings.
• The EIDBI Advisory Group and its subgroups.

These opportunities ensure that the voices of families, providers, educators and community partners are reflected in ongoing work.

Other advocacy and advisory opportunities

In addition to the EIDBI Learning Collaborative, there are many advocacy and advisory councils at the local, state and national levels through which people, families, and providers can share their perspectives and influence autism services and community supports. These groups bring together people with lived experience, professionals and policymakers to identify priorities, recommend improvements and guide decision-making. Participation is often open through applications, public meetings or community-engagement opportunities.

You can also follow the latest news and events calendar on the Minnesota Autism Resource Portal for upcoming opportunities to get involved.

Get involved

Email the autism team at DHS to request more information or a copy of the application if you are interested in:

• Applying for membership.
• Attending a meeting as a guest contributor.
• Learning more about the collaborative.

If you want to receive emailed updates about EIDBI policies, meetings, events and training, use the form below to sign up for eList announcements.