Mental and Behavioral Health

We aim to:

• Develop and disseminate evidence-informed practices to build more inclusive health and childcare environments for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities.
• Recruit and train current and future providers in the fields of health care, education, and related fields from a variety of backgrounds and regions of Kansas to provide inclusive care in partnership with people with lived experience and their families.

Associated Staff  

Skylar A. Bellinger, Ph.D.

Dr. Bellinger graduated from University of San Diego and completed her PhD in School Psychology at the University of Kansas. She completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship with Kansas LEND at the University of Kansas Medical Center, specializing in Developmental Pediatrics. Dr. Bellinger joined the KUMC faculty in 2013 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021. Dr. Bellinger has a particular interest in autism and developmental disabilities, pediatric conditions such as cystic fibrosis and cleft lip/ cleft palate, and interdisciplinary teaching and training. Dr. Bellinger is faculty on the Kansas LEND grant and serves as the LEND postdoctoral training director. Dr. Bellinger is engaged in efforts to train providers across Kansas in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a behavioral intervention for young children, and is a PCIT International Within Agency Trainer. She is also working to build capacity across the state by developing a childcare provider training series and certification.

Nicole Crump

Nicole is a dedicated advocate for caregiver needs. The mother of two children, including one who has an ultra-rare medical condition and complex needs, Nicole understands the importance of community, connection, and wellness for caregivers of disabled children. This passion led her to work within the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where her work centers around providing families information and support to enhance their overall wellbeing.  Her professional passions include clinician and community education, enhancing Kansas respite services, and providing practical self-care interventions for families.

Chandra Gordon

Chandra Gordon, LMSW, has over 25 years of experience in the social services, behavioral health and medical fields. Her background includes youth development, care coordination, program development/management/evaluation, grant writing, personnel management, facilitation and training, quality improvement, community advocacy, and qualitative research/analysis.  She is currently serving as an Academic Social Worker at the University of Kansas Medical Center in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Sciences. 

Rene R. Jamison, Ph.D.

Dr. Rene Jamison graduated from Kansas State University and completed her Doctorate degree in School Psychology at the University of Kansas. She completed her developmental pediatrics fellowship in the Center for Child Health and Development at the University of Kansas Medical Center and joined the faculty in 2008 at the rank of Assistant Professor and promoted to Associate Professor in 2017. Dr. Jamison is a Licensed Psychologist with an emphasis in autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, and a particular research and clinical expertise around females with autism and gender differences. Dr. Jamison is the Director of our Kansas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (KS-LEND) Program, a federally funded interdisciplinary training program.