Iowa's Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Complex Care Needs Project ECHO

What is Project ECHO?

Iowa's IDD Complex Care Needs Project ECHO is a FREE virtual educational activity aimed at improving community support for adults with Intellectual/Developmental (IDD) disabilities.

Based on the University of New Mexico's original Project ECHO, Iowa's IDD Complex Care Needs Project ECHO is managed by the University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry, and is the result of a collaboration between University of Iowa Healthcare, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS), the Iowa Association of Community Providers (IACP), Molina Healthcare, Iowa Total Care, and Wellpoint. 

Iowa's IDD Complex Care Needs Project ECHO is funded by Molina.

What is Project ECHO's mission?

The goal of the Iowa IDD Complex Care Needs Project ECHO is to improve community capacity to support adults living with IDD and co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and behavioral complexity in Iowa and beyond.

How does Project ECHO work?

Iowa's IDD Complex Care Needs Project ECHO uses videoconferencing to connect interdisciplinary teams of specialists and subject matter experts. Together, the Project ECHO "hub" team and participants develop advanced skills and best practices through collaboration and case-based learning in an “all teach, all learn” environment.     

Each virtual session lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. The session begins with a brief educational lecture and ends with a case-based learning activity.

During the session, a community professional presents a de-identified case of an adult with IDD and complex care needs. After the presentation, the hub team and participants ask questions and give recommendations. 

Who can attend an Iowa IDD Complex Care Needs Project ECHO session?

Anyone who provides support or services to adults with an intellectual and/or developmental disability. This includes but is not limited to direct support professionals, social workers, family members, administrators, physicians, advanced practice provides, psychologists, therapists.

Is Project ECHO really free?

Yes! Direct support professionals, or anyone who provides support to adults with IDD, can join one of the Iowa IDD Complex Care Needs Project ECHO virtual sessions at no cost. 

Free Continuing Education Credits are also available to nurses, pharmacist/pharmacy tech, social worker, physicians and psychologists.

When does Project ECHO meet?

Virtual sessions for Iowa's IDD Complex Care Needs Project ECHO are regularly scheduled on every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 1:15 to 2:30 PM.