Grow Your Own SLP or SLPA Program: Successful GYO Programs

The following states have been successful in establishing grow your own (GYO) programs for school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs):

Arizona

Type of Partnership: Informal partnership with the Arizona Department of Education, Northern Arizona University, and the Yuma School District
SLP Contact: Sandra Stewart, Coordinator of NAU’s Summer Track for SLPs
SLPA Contact: Jeff Meeks, Assistant Clinical Professor and SLPA Certificate Coordinator, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northern Arizona University (NAU)

More information about this program:

Colorado

Type of Partnership: Partnership between the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and the Colorado Schools Consortium (CSC), a group of Colorado school districts working to address the shortage of school-based SLPs. Through a workforce development approach, the program prioritizes SLPAs employed by participating consortium districts to complete the three year online masters SLP degree while continuing to serve their local schools.
SLP Contact: Nicole Reisfeld, SLPD, CCC-SLP, Online SLP Graduate Coordinator and Assistant Professor, University of Northern Colorado
Consortium Contact: Ken Moritz, LEGACY Leadership Consulting, LLC

More information about this program: UNC Speech-Language Pathology M.A. – Online Program

Kansas

Type of Partnership: Formal agreement between Fort Hays State University and Southwest Kansas Area Cooperative District; informal agreement to cover tuition costs for any public university in Kansas
SLP Contact: Jason Wright, Assistant Director, Southwest Kansas Area Cooperative District

Maryland

Type of Partnership: Partnership between the University of Maryland and Montgomery County Public Schools
SLP Contact: Kristin Slawson, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Maryland, and Shelley A. McAuliffe, Supervisor of Speech and Language Services for Montgomery County Public Schools

Ohio

Type of Partnership: Partnership between the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center and all accredited universities offering degrees leading to SLP licensure in Ohio
SLP Contact: Eric Turlo, Director of Student Services, Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center

More information about this program: Mid-Ohio Education Service Center Grow-Your-Own Speech-Language Pathologist Development Program [PDF]

South Carolina

Type of Partnership: Collaborative partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education, local education agencies, and 15 colleges
SLP Contact: Joe Sutton, Director of the Centers for the Re-Education and Advancement of Teachers in Special Education and Related Services Personnel (CREATE)

More information about this program: Centers for the Re-Education and Advancement of Teachers in Special Education and Related Services Personnel (CREATE)

South Dakota

Type of Partnership: Partnership between Mitchell Technical College and employers through the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP). Participating employers provide tuition support to prepare SLPAs. Students agree to work for the employer following graduation.
SLP Contact: Jennifer Schultz, Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program Director, Mitchell Technical College

More information about this program: Mitchell Technical College Workforce Recruitment Program

Texas

Type of Partnership: Partnership between Dallas Independent School District, The University of Texas at Dallas, and the Callier Center for Communication Disorders
SLP Contact: Jessica Carter – University of Texas

Type of Partnership: Partnership between Texas Woman’s University (TWU) and various school districts who wanted to sponsor a student
SLP Contact: Cynthia B. Gill, Professor and Department Chair, Department of Communication Sciences and Oral Health, Texas Woman’s University

More information about this program: