How much work is involved by a participating externship organization in preparing to support the NIMAA model?
To be successful, externship organizations need to establish leadership and systemic support of the NIMAA program. This typically starts with an internal executive sponsor who sees the value NIMAA can bring to your health center, and who then appoints internally the appropriate people to support the program.
An agreement will need to be signed between NIMAA and the externship organization, which may require involving your organization's legal counsel. Once the agreement is finalized, the NIMAA Program Coordinator needs to effectively communicate the program goals, timeframe, and expectations of both the staff and the students. Externship organizations also need to ensure that all staff members who will support the program participate in trainings (both synchronous and asynchronous) leading up to the start of the program.
NIMAA provides significant support to help each organization prepare for success!