Building Early Connections (BEC) Center
Rush University Medical Center

Program Information

What is Project ECHO^®?

Project ECHO^® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a model of continuing education and mentorship that empowers providers everywhere to provide better care to more people, right where they live. Learn more. ECHO^® increases access to evidence-based interventions in underserved areas by providing front-line providers with the knowledge they need to support families with socially complex needs. The Early Childhood ECHO seeks to partner with community providers to adapt these solutions to the unique context of children and families living on the West Side. Learn more.

What is RUSH’s Early Childhood ECHO^®?

Rush’s Early Childhood ECHO^® is a 9-month, biweekly (18 sessions) cohort-based educational program created to support, mentor and empower front-line providers to not only identify the most common developmental, behavioral and social-emotional concerns, but utilize evidence-based solutions to support families and young children.

What You Will Learn

• Using the Pyramid Model of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) in Early Childhood Education
• Screening for early childhood concerns in non-clinical settings (daycare, preschool etc).
• How to support challenging behaviors in their everyday environment (home, daycare, school)
• How to support families with socially complex needs
• How to support providers in their own self care

Program Details

Early Childhood ECHO® Faculty and Staff

Lashawnda Thornton, MS, MSW

Program Director, Building Early Connections

Lashawnda_L_Thornton[at]rush.edu

Deanna Doss, MSW

Administrative Assistant, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Facilitator, Project ECHO

Deanna_P_Doss[at]rush.edu

Emily Wolodiger, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Lead Psychologist, Building Early Connections

Emily_Wolodiger[at]rush.edu

Michelle Greene, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics

Section Director, Pediatric Psychology

Michelle_Greene[at]rush.edu

Ashlee Taylor, MSW, LSW

Licensed Social Worker, Department of Psychiatry ad Behavioral Sciences

Clinician, Building Early Connections

Ashlee_Taylor[at]rush.edu

Megan Donahue, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Building Early Connections

Megan_Donahue[at]rush.edu

Diamond Phillips, BA 

Research Coordinator, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Assistant, Project ECHO

Diamond_Phillips[at]rush.edu

Allison Wainer, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Research Director, AARTS Center

Allison_Wainer[at]rush.edu

Niranjan Karnik, MD, PhD

Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Associate Dean for Community Behavioral Health, Rush Medical College

Niranjan_Karnik[at]rush.edu