Department of Education Personnel Preparation Grants

Meeting the Early Intervention Needs of Young Children and Families in Hawaiʻi 

This is a five-year, $1.1 million grant from the US Department of Education, under the Office of Special Education (OSEP) Personnel Prep Grant program (award # H325M230026) 

Purpose 

The HPU-DPT grant is dedicated to enhancing the capacity of the early intervention physical therapy workforce in Hawaiʻi, specifically for young children with developmental delays and their families through the preparation of Doctors of Physical Therapy who will be educated to provide early intervention to children and families in Hawaiʻi. 

The grant will provide support to HPU DPT student scholars to help address identified needs for physical therapists from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds and physical therapists who are multilingual with the knowledge and skills to promote high expectations and provide effective evidence-based interventions and services that improve outcomes for children with disabilities, including children of color with disabilities and children with disabilities who are multilingual. 

Scholars Receive 

The grant provides scholarship funding to DPT students towards tuition and fees over a 6-month period. During this time, scholars (program participants) will take specially designed early intervention focused graduate courses, participate in mentored clinical education experiences, take a Hawaiian language course, and complete the requirements to become an early intervention provider in Hawaii.    

Coursework 

There are two online graduate courses offered through the Graduate College of Health Sciences at HPU. DPT 8651 and DPT 8652 will be taught concurrently with other DPT course work in Spring and Summer semesters. These courses are required for all grant scholars and occur prior to and simultaneously to the mentored clinical education experiences. 

Timing 

Application opens (Spring – Term 3 or 4 of 1st year) 

Application deadline (TBD) 

Scholars selected and notified by (Summer – Term 5 of 1st year) 

Scholars begin: January each year through 2028 

Scholarship Amount 

Approximately $30,000 will be granted to each scholar for DPT Program tuition and fees. Funding for travel and professional development opportunities may also be available. These funds will be disbursed from HPU’s Office of Sponsored Projects beginning in January each year through 2028. 

Commitment of Scholars 

All scholars will be required to register in the Federal Personnel Development Program Data Collection System (PDPDCS) and fulfill the service obligation following graduation and licensure. The service obligation requires that the scholar be employed in a position in which  (1) At least 51 percent of the infants, toddlers, and children to whom the individual provides services are receiving special education, related services, or early intervention services from the individual;  (2) The individual spends at least 51 percent of his or her time providing special education, related services, or early intervention services to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities for a minimum of 2 years following graduation and licensure. 

Scholar Qualifications 

• Current HPU DPT-Honolulu student. 

• Interest in early intervention services and becoming an EI provider in Hawai’i. 

• In good academic, clinical and professional standing in the DPT program. 

• Willing to participate in additional targeted DPT course requirements, two Early Intervention graduate courses, Hawaiian language course and mentored clinical education in an early intervention setting for the final 16-week full time terminal clinical experience.   

• Willing to commit to the PDPDCS service obligation following participation in the grant as a scholar.    

• Willing to participate in follow up communication following participation in the grant as a scholar. 

• Completion of the online application by the published deadline.  

Project Staff
	TRICIA CATALINO, PT, DSC Project Director Email: tcatalino@hpu.edu
	Mary Jane Rapport, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA Co-Project Director Email: mjrapport@hpu.edu
	Amanda Arevalo, PT, DSc Project Faculty and Scholar Mentor Email: amarevalo@hpu.edu
	Steffanie Dube, BA Project Staff Email: sdube@hpu.edu
	Ted Burke Project Consultant

Meeting the Needs of Children with Disabilities with High Intensity Needs in Hawai‘i  

This is a five-year, $1.2 million grant from the US Department of Education, under the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Personnel Prep Grant program (Award # H325R240040) 

Purpose 

The HPU OTD-Honolulu grant is dedicated to enhancing the capacity of the occupational therapy workforce in Hawaiʻi serving children with disabilities with high intensity needs and their families. The OTD Scholars program will prepare scholars to help address identified needs for occupational therapists prepared to work in Early Intervention (EI) and Preschool Special Education settings in Hawaiʻi.  

The OTD scholars (program participants) who are funded under this grant will be well-qualified to provide services for infants, toddlers, and preschool children with high intensity needs, work as members of an interprofessional team, work in either EI and Preschool Special Education settings in Hawaiʻi, while focused on culturally and linguistically responsive services. 

Scholars Receive 

The grant provides scholarship funding to HPU OTD-Honolulu students towards tuition and fees. Scholars will take specially designed early intervention and preschool-focused graduate coursework, take a Hawaiian language course, complete the AOTA Early Identification Badge and requirements to become an early intervention provider in Hawaiʻi, and participate in mentored clinical education and a capstone experience in an early intervention or preschool setting. 

Coursework 

There is additional coursework required for all OTD scholars. In Fall A & B, students complete OTD 8651 Early Intervention & Preschool Practice I, a 0.5 credit hour course designed to introduce scholars to service delivery and evidence-based practice for children with high intensity needs in Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education settings. OTD scholars will also complete an additional learning module in OTD 8320 Occupational Therapy for Children and Youth and OTD 8250 Assistive & Complex Rehab Technology focused on applying course concepts to children with high intensity needs. In the Spring B term, OTD scholars will complete the AOTA Early Identification Badge, a 5-hour independent study focused on early intervention, fostering the caregiver-infant relationship, screening for autism and neuromuscular disorders, and enhancing cultural competency. In the Summer A & B terms, OTD Scholars will complete OTD 8652 Early Intervention & Preschool Practice II, an interprofessional seminar-style course occurring simultaneously with Level II fieldwork in an EI or preschool special education setting. Additionally, OTD scholars will complete a doctoral capstone project specific to EI or Preschool Special Education. 

Timing 

Application opens (Summer A – Term 3 of 1st year) 

Application deadline (TBD) 

Scholars selected and notified (Summer B – Term 4 of 1st year) 

Scholars begin: Fall A each year through 2029 

Scholarship Amount 

Approximately $34,000 will offset tuition costs for each scholar accepted into the OTD Scholars Program. Funding for travel and professional development opportunities may also be available. These funds will be disbursed from HPU’s Office of Sponsored Projects and are dependent on U.S. Department of Education and OSEP funding. 

Commitment of Scholars 

All scholars will be required to register in the Federal Personnel Development Program Data Collection System (PDPDCS) and fulfill the service obligation following graduation and licensure. The service obligation requires that the scholar be employed in a position in which (1) At least 51 percent of the infants, toddlers, and children to whom the individual provides services are receiving special education, related services, or early intervention services from the individual; (2) The individual spends at least 51 percent of his or her time providing special education, related services, or early intervention services to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities for a minimum of 16 months following graduation and licensure. This service obligation is calculated based on funding support being provided over 2 semesters.

Scholar Qualifications 

• Current HPU OTD-Honolulu student. 

• Interest in early intervention or preschool special education services and becoming an EI or preschool special education OT provider in Hawai’i. 

• In good academic, clinical and professional standing in the OTD program. 

• Willing to participate in additional targeted OTD course requirements, OTD 8651 Early Intervention & Preschool Practice I (Fall A & B), two learning modules embedded within OTD 8320 & OTD 8250 (Fall A), AOTA Early Identification Badge (Spring B), OTD 8652 Early Intervention & Preschool Practice II (Summer A & B), Hawaiian language course, and mentored clinical education in an early intervention/preschool setting (one Level II fieldwork and capstone experience/project). 

• Willing to commit to the PDPDCS service obligation following participation in the grant as a scholar.    

• Willing to participate in follow up communication following participation in the grant as a scholar. 

• Completion of the online application by the deadline. 

Project Staff
	JANA CASON, DHSC, OTR/L, FAOTA Project Director Email: jcason@hpu.edu
	PATTY COKER-BOLT, PH.D., OTR/L, FNAP, FAOTA Project Faculty and Scholar Mentor Email: pcokerbolt@hpu.edu
	Cindy Sears, OTD, MA, OTR/L, BCP Co-Project Director Email: clsears@hpu.edu

Hawaiʻi Pacific University OTD Scholars Program

The Hawaiʻi Pacific University OTD Scholars Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education through an Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Personnel Prep Development grant. Over a 5-year period, the grant will prepare a total of 23 occupational therapy (OT) scholars who are fully credentialed and licensed to serve children, including infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities who have high-intensity needs. The HPU OTD Scholar Program will help address State-identified needs for qualified personnel in Hawaii and ensure OT scholars have the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in serving children who have high-intensity needs.

Class of 2026 OT Scholars

Kylie-Rae Abe

My participation in the grant program will help meet the priority of the US Department of Education to serve children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs by serving this population throughout my time as a registered occupational therapist. Being born and raised in Hawai'i and gaining my education through the Department of Education, I was exposed to the lack of services for children with high-intensity needs. This population can show significant progress when they receive services from an early age, but this need is not being met [due to provider shortages]. This opportunity will help close the gap by providing me with the tools to support these children while being culturally aware and community driven.

Ashley Albores

My participation in this exciting grant opportunity as part of Hawaiʻi's first OTD program will help positively contribute to the culturally responsive occupational therapists’ workforce here in Hawaiʻi that will serve children with high-intensity needs and their families across the state. The purpose of this grant is addressing a very important need in a state that not only has a provider shortage in service of this population but also has many communities that are geographically isolated and distant from quality services that would benefit from having access to professionals who are fully credentialed and licensed. I happen to live in one of these rural communities on the north shore of Oʻahu that is currently underserved and desperately in need of more properly trained occupational therapists that are motivated and qualified to meet the needs of children with disabilities and consider the input and concerns from their parents and caregivers. Through participating in this grant program, I am looking forward to the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience working with infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities in the preschool and early intervention settings and apply it to my fieldwork clinical education and capstone experience when I return to my community to meet the needs of Hawaiʻi's rural residents that deserve access to the same if not better care provided in populated metropolitan areas like Honolulu and the mainland U.S.

Mariah Kekaimalie Miyo Shizuru Borce

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, I carry a deep aloha for our keiki and a kuleana to serve my community. Growing up in Oahu and Waimea, I've seen firsthand how limited services are for children with disabilities, especially those with high-intensity needs. This is not just a rural issue, but a challenge across our pae ʻāina. Far too often, ʻohana wait months or even years for support that should be consistent.

This grant program would give me the tools, education, training, and licensure to become a credentialed occupational therapist who can give back to the place and people that raised me and to serve where the need is greatest. As someone who understands the local culture, values, and language, I can provide care that is not only clinically sound, but also pilina based (relationship based) and culturally sensitive. Our keiki deserve practitioners who see them as whole people body, mind, and spirit and who uplift their ʻohana as partners in care. 

By supporting my journey, this grant helps fulfill the U.S. Department of Education's mission to prepare professionals to serve children with high-intensity needs. More importantly, it invests in a future where Hawaiʻi's keiki can thrive in their own communities, surrounded by people who understand their culture, language, and home. Whether or not I receive this scholarship, I am committed to being that person for Hawaiʻi. But this opportunity would provide the foundation to strengthen my skills and spark lasting change for the keiki of Hawai'i.

Annamarie Jump

My participation in this grant program will directly support the U.S. Department of Education's priority by expanding my access to specialized pediatric coursework and training. This will provide me with a foundation of skills necessary to become a fully credentialed practitioner capable of serving children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs early in their development. Adding this to my OT toolkit will further prepare me to pursue my dream of helping children feel seen, supported, and empowered while building skills to thrive as exactly who they are.

Savanna Paladino

As a dedicated scholar in the field of Pediatric Occupational Therapy and Early Intervention, my participation in this program will directly support children with varying abilities and high-intensity needs by addressing both the U.S. Department of Education's scholarly priorities and the practical realities of service delivery. This program will provide me with advanced training in a field I have a deep passion for and bolster my skillset with additional knowledge in preparation for becoming a fully credentialed and licensed Occupational Therapist who prioritizes evidence-based, individualized interventions that meet the complex academic, behavioral, and developmental needs of this population.

Children with high-intensity needs deserve highly skilled professionals who can deliver intensive, data-driven supports across settings. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, I will be equipped and look forward to working closely with families, educators, and specialists to ensure access, promote inclusion, equity, and culturally responsive practices that reflect the diverse backgrounds and strengths of the children and families in service.

This program also aligns with the federal priority of increasing the supply of qualified personnel in special education. By preparing me to fill critical service gaps, especially in underserved communities, it ensures that children with significant disabilities receive the high-quality support they need to thrive academically and socially.

I look forward to the field of Occupational Therapy through practice and research, using scholarship to drive change and improve outcomes. This opportunity will empower me to become a leader and advocate, equipped not only with credentials but with a deep, practical understanding of how to serve one of our most vulnerable populations with dignity, compassion, and skill.

Hana Kim Rupnow

My participation in the grant program will provide foundational coursework, meaningful Level II fieldwork experiences, and a focused capstone to support children with disabilities. The culmination of these experiences will prepare me to provide family-centered, evidence-based care to children with disabilities in Hawai'i after graduating from my doctorate program. Children with disabilities who have high-intensity support needs, and their families deserve compassionate and effective healthcare. This opportunity aligns with my personal career goals of increasing health equity in my community. My hope for all scholars in this program is to enter the workforce as culturally responsive occupational therapists who empower children and their families to reach their personal goals.

I look forward to direct and specific feedback from professors, peers, and community members in a small group learning environment. My exposure to working with newborns to 2 years old with high-intensity needs has been limited in both academic and clinical settings. It would be transformative to receive more mentorship to further develop my clinical reasoning skills for infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities. I look forward to discussing advanced topics to explore the best options for our service users. Being part of the HPU OTD Scholars program will empower me to grow as a thoughtful, evidence-based, and family-centered practitioner committed to advancing equitable care for children with high-intensity needs.