Dr. Katherine Herron is an assistant research scientist with the Early Childhood Center (ECC) at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Dr. Herron has a background in Clinical Psychology. Her focus shifted to early intervention during graduate school when her son was born with a disability. Her experience as a parent in First Steps, the state’s early intervention system, led her to work as a service coordinator and outreach coordinator within the same system, as well as on grants focused on parent advocacy and transition. She currently serves as chair of Bloomington’s city-supported Council for Community Accessibility. At ECC, her research focus is on improving the quality of early intervention and education systems through the use of evidence-based family-centered practices, including the promotion of high family expectations for young children with disabilities.
Degrees
Dr. Herron holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Spanish from Indiana University and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University (2003).
Personal Statement
My background in Psychology combined with my 19 years of personal experience as a parent of a child with a disability have driven my desire to develop and promote the implementation of high quality family engagement practices in early childhood systems. I have a first-hand understanding of the importance of families and system providers (from national and state leaders to home visitors and teachers) working together to measure and achieve identified outcomes.
Research Interests
- Family Engagement
- High quality practices in early intervention
- Fostering high expectations in families of children with disabilities
- Evaluation of new early childhood initiatives
Awards and Honors
- 2015, Family Leadership Award, Riley Child Development Center
- 2013, Mayor’s Award, City of Bloomington