Our Mission

At the Edna A. Hill Child Development Center (CDC), we play a crucial role in teaching future leaders in early childhood education and intervention and behavior analysis while supporting children and families in our community. At the CDC, we strive to build an inclusive environment that promotes and values diversity. Our vision is to create an environment where everyone, from any background, can be their best.

The primary function of the CDC is to provide an academic setting for the instruction of undergraduate and graduate students in the Applied Behavioral Science (ABS) Department. Each semester, undergraduate students in the Early Childhood Education program participate in supervised practicum experiences and work directly with the children. They act as classroom teachers or interventionists under the supervision of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), Lead Teachers, a Program Coordinator (who oversees the day-to-day operation of the classrooms), and faculty members in the ABS Department.  Students are observed and receive continuous instruction and feedback to foster their development of critical skills and competence as teachers and/or interventionists.

Within this academic setting, our goals are threefold and include training, research, and service.

• Training: The CDC recognizes the value of high-quality professionals and is dedicated to providing excellent training for both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing education in the field of behavior analysis and early intervention.
• Research: The CDC values continued discovery of the best methods for providing intervention and education to persons with and without developmental disabilities through research that will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
• Service: The CDC aims to provide evidence-based education and individualized intervention for children with and without disabilities. Children and their families in the CDC receive the benefits of participating in enriched early intervention programs that utilize empirically sound and effective procedures and instructional techniques within a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. The goal is for children who attend our program to acquire the skills necessary for a successful transition to Kindergarten/1st grade, inclusion in public schools, increased independence and abilities, and development of meaningful social relationships.