The Specialized Health Needs Interagency Collaboration Project (SHNIC) is a community-based program that provides on-site training and technical assistance to parents and personnel from schools and community service programs throughout Maryland at no cost.

Who We Are:

The Specialized Health Needs Interagency Collaboration project (SHNIC) is a collaborative partnership between the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Maryland State Department of Education. The goal of SHNIC is to provide community education that facilitates the inclusion of children ages 0-21 with specialized health needs. Through free, on-site training and technical assistance, we teach the skills to safely and effectively manage the needs of students which help them integrate into their schools and communities. Professionals and parents from the local school systems, health departments, and related community services agencies can access SHNIC services.

Services We Offer:

Our team combines the expertise of nurse educators and education specialists to help students with a range of specialized health needs that include, but are not limited to: feeding tube management, urinary catheterization, tracheostomy or ventilator management, genetic disorders, traumatic brain injury, neurological disorders, diabetic management, medication management, orthopedic impairment, and medical device training. SHNIC can provide a variety of services, including:

  1. Community-based consultation, training, seminar, or workshop about a child's specialized health need, managing the child’s specialized health need, or how a child’s diagnosis may affect his/her education
  2. Technical assistance, based on evidence-based practices, from a variety of disciplines including nursing, speech-language, occupational and physical therapy, and special education
  3. Case-by-case consultation and skills training about students with medical devices
  4. Referrals to community and health resources or support services
  5. Database of publications and educational materials about specific medical conditions

Information for School Nurses

Information for Educators

Information for Families

Contacts:

To Request School Health Training or Technical Assistance:
Email: SHNICNursing@KennedyKrieger.org
Phone: (443) 923-4558

For Information:
Joan Carney, EdD
Phone: (443) 923-4555
Email: Carney@KennedyKrieger.org