During the IN Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE) Fall Conference, Dr. Tiffany Neal from the HANDS in Autism® Center and Tim Kirk from KCARC delivered a session titled “Building Local Capacity: Developing Internal Coaches to Strengthen System and Team Needs in Behavioral Health & Education.” Their presentation introduced the HANDS Internal Coaching Provider Model and the Provider Training initiative, emphasizing structured coaching, evidence-based practices, and sustainable strategies to enhance behavioral health and education systems.
The session spotlighted the 3-Day Provider Training, a multi-session format delivered over three weeks with half-day sessions offered both virtually and in-person. Participants engaged in applied practice, received structured feedback, and completed fidelity checks using tools like the HANDS-ACT (Assessment for Collaboration Tool). The training also provided pathways for providers to join the Internal Coaching Cohort, supporting long-term implementation and coaching capacity.
The 2024 HANDS Community Provider Training demonstrated strong engagement and impact. Across two sessions, the training reached 52 registered participants, with 35 attending and completing 9 hours of structured instruction. These sessions focused on foundational supports, evidence-based practices, and coaching fidelity, equipping providers with practical tools for implementation. Participants engaged in both group and individual feedback cycles, supported by tools like the HANDS-ACT and coaching modules. This training laid the groundwork for sustained coaching efforts and contributed to the growing network of internal coaches across behavioral health and education systems.
