This newsletter comes from the National MCH Workforce Development Center. As leaders in Title V MCH, state and local public health, and academia, this newsletter is a great way to learn about best practice, collaborations and share your expertise. This newsletter will be sent out three times a year.
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Partnership Spotlight
The Relationship between Training of the MCH Workforce in Schools and Programs of Public Health and Title V Partners
As part of its multiple Maternal and Child Health (MCH) workforce development efforts, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) funds maternal and child health focused training programs in schools and programs of Public Health: Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (CoE-MCH) and Catalyst Programs. Currently, there are 13 Centers of Excellence in MCH Education, Science, and Practice (CoE) and 9 MCH Public Health Catalyst Program (Catalyst) programs. Beyond providing didactic and experiential public health training in MCH that leads to masters or doctoral degrees, public health MCH training programs funded by MCHB are also tasked with establishing and strengthening academic-practice partnerships with state and territorial Title V agencies and their partners.
The relationship between MCH academe and Title V agencies can take many forms and can be viewed as a dynamic relationship with each partner sharing their knowledge and expertise to elevate the mission and objectives of the other.
When Title V comes to the classroom, students gain first-hand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities which state MCH agencies face as they carry out their priorities and implement evidence-informed strategies to achieve their objectives.
Likewise, MCH academics can provide technical assistance and share their expertise in a variety of MCH content areas across the life course with their Title V partners. Student internships with Title V agencies are a perfect example of the dynamic relationship between Title V and MCH academe, with students learning the ins and outs of Title V while conducting a project or projects that meet the needs of the state agency. Often, MCH faculty provide their expertise and skills to Title V staff through the projects of student interns if and when students seek faculty help in project execution.
In Illinois, a close relationship between the state Title V program and the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (CoE-MCH) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) SPH has developed over many years of collaboration, mutual investment, and consistent interaction. A specific example of this dynamic relationship is an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Title V and the UIC-SPH CoE-MCH which has enabled IL Title V to receive significant help with their five-year Needs Assessment including both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analyses to support the development of Illinois’ state MCH priorities and Action Plan.
Beyond the needs assessment, this IGA has also led to the development of multiple analyses, reports, infographics, and peer-reviewed publications focused on a variety of MCH content areas over the years. Joint projects have focused on:
- oral health for pregnant persons and children;
- treatment for postpartum depression;
- the relationship between preterm birth and developmental outcomes;
- experiences of IL birthing persons with COVID in pregnancy;
- a descriptive analysis of mental health conditions of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic;
- the development of a breastfeeding blueprint; and
- an exploration of patterns of parental behaviors associated with SUID.
Likewise, IL Title V staff are a regular presence in the classroom, providing IL examples and context for topics such as:
- maternal morbidity and mortality;
- adolescent health;
- Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs; and
- health equity across the life course.
The partnership between the CoE-MCH at UIC-SPH and IL Title V contributes to an environment in which MCH in IL is valued for its commitment to both scientific rigor and health equity as the two pillars for improving the health and well-being of women, pregnant persons, children and families.
About the author. Arden Handler is a Professor in Community Health Sciences, the Director of the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health at the University of Illinois School of Public Health in Chicago. handler@uic.edu
Growing the Pathways for MCH Students to Work in Governmental Public Health
The Title V Summer Internship Program begins in June!
We are so excited to announce that we have 11 Title V MCH agencies who will be hosting a total of 22 undergraduate and graduate level interns from the HRSA MCHB training programs [Centers of Excellence in MCH Education, Science, and Practice (CoE), the MCH Public Health Catalyst Program (Catalyst), and the MCH Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways (LEAP) Training Programs]. This year’s state Title V interns will work on projects within the following domains:
· Cross-Cutting/Social Determinants of Health
· Well-Woman/Perinatal Health
· Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
· Child Health
· Adolescent Health
· Infant Health/Breastfeeding
Research and Practice
New Research on Workforce and Developing Pathways for Undergraduate and Graduate Public Health Students
Read more articles from the Maternal and Child Health Journal Special Issue from August 2022: Developing and Strengthening the Current and Future MCH Public Health Workforce: Building Capacity, Aligning Systems and Addressing Emerging Challenges
A New American University Model for Training the Future MCH Workforce Through a Translational Research Team. C.M. Whisner, J.C. Brown, D.M. Larson, L.A Rodriguez, B. Peter, E. Reifsnider, J. Bever, L. Lu, E. Raczynski, J.B. Rosales Chavez, C. Ojinnaka, C. Berkel, & M. Bruening. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 26, 10-19 (2022)
Arizona State University (ASU) is utilizing MCH Translational Research Team (MCH TrT) to impact health and health disparities. The MCH TrT, a multidisciplinary translational team, “…was developed to foster research and help to better integrate students with faculty research, community, and clinical activities”p.3 and focus on five key areas: clinical, community, research and evaluation, policy, and training. Students work across the five areas with at least one faculty member, one community member.
Since the program’s inception, the majority of the students have been undergraduates, largely first-generation, and racially/ethnically diverse. This model promotes educating and training a diverse workforce, building better collaborations and outcomes (research, products, trained workforce, retention of knowledge), flexible support and mentorship, etc.
“Students have indicated that as a result of their engagement in the translational research team activities, they have enhanced their skills in the use of research evidence, practice development, communication and team building, and research, all components of gaps identified in the AMCHP workforce development survey” p. 7
An Overview of an Undergraduate Diversity MCH Pipeline Training Program: USF’s Train-A-Bull
A. Torrens Armstrong, C.A. Noble, J. Azeredo, E. Daley, R.E. Wilson & C. Vamos. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 26, 26-36 (2022)
The University of South Florida (USF) housed an undergraduate MCH Pipeline Training Program (PTP) that supported underrepresented minorities trainees in becoming MCH professionals, with the hopes of increasing the diversity of the MCH workforce. “Trainees were mentored, trained, guided, and supported by program faculty/staff.” The students represented diverse racial/ethnic populations, the majority were first-generation and accepted federal financial aid. The PTP used the Stages of Educational Discovery model (Decider, Explorer, Maximer, and Mover) (Arnold et al. 2015) to implement an innovative and high-quality training program for students. The program consisted of public health courses and training, a summer institute, mentorship, an internship, and professional networking.
Resources and Tools
Engaging with People with Lived Experiences Resource Guide now Available
The National MCH Workforce Development Center is pleased to share a new, free resource for engaging with people with lived experience with you. The resource, Successful Engagement with People who have Lived Experience is intended to help Public Health Practitioners prepare for partnering with communities with lived experience.
Many times, community and Public Health Practitioners have different needs and goals. It is critical for Public Health Practitioners to understand the perspectives of the community and involve them in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs in their community. Being aware of the power imbalances and the need to shift power will create opportunities for establishing, cultivating, and sustaining partnerships.
For more information, contact: Becky Burns, rkburns@wisc.edu
ATMCH Teaching & Learning Resources
ATMCH Teaching & Learning Resources contain syllabi and educational resources from Schools of Public Health and MCH programs. Members of ATMCH voluntarily submit their syllabi and educational resources. Find syllabi and resources on topics such as MCH Foundations, Policy & Advocacy, Research Methods, and more!
To submit a resource, syllabi or for questions, contact jmcdouga@uab.edu
MCHwork– Micro-learning from the MCH Navigator
The National MCH Workforce Development Center (WDC) and the MCH Navigator have teamed up to share a new micro-learning program, MCHwork, to actively engage busy professionals in the field on thematic topics over the course of five years. The newest microlearning focuses on people with lived experiences and highlights the newest resource from the MCH Workforce Development Center.
· Winter 2023: Successful Engagement with People with Lived Experience
Opportunities, Conferences, Job Boards, and More
Congratulations! The National MCH Workforce Development Center in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health presented at the annual ASPPH Conference!
In March 2023, Rebecca Greenleaf and Leslie deRosset, from the National MCH Workforce Development Center (Center) in collaboration with Marcus Allen and Cynthia deSa from the VA Department of Health were honored to present “Academic-Practice Partnerships: Working Together to Enhance Opportunities for Collaboration between Academic Centers and Title V Maternal and Child Health Programs” moderated by Ayanna Johnson, with HRSA MCHB’s Division of MCH Workforce Development.
Allen and deSa shared their experiences working with the Center over the past five-plus years.
The VA Department of Health is a consistent Title V Summer Internship site, and hope to host two interns again in the summer of 2023. Mr. Allen has also hired an intern from another graduate program to collaborate specifically with him and CYSHCN division.
Allen and deSa highlighted how working with the Center has and continues to increase the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of their statewide Title V team and stakeholders to execute systematic changes in maternal and child health.
The National MCH Workforce Development Center provides a “pay-it-forward” investment in the next generation of MCH leaders. The summer internship program benefits the students through opportunities to unlock and realize their potential place as MCH leaders, and brings new energy and reminder of the “why” to the state leadership teams who serve as preceptors. It’s a win-win!
–Cynthia deSa, MSW, MPH, LCSW
“The National MCH Workforce Development Center provides a very important service in the field of public health and more specifically, maternal and child health. They support state programs by offering expert guidance and support as many of us struggle to implement complex population health strategies. In addition, they are leaders in encouraging the next generation of professionals to join this wonderful profession. I value them and their work and I know that we are better off because of it. ”
–Marcus C. Allen, MPH
Job Boards
Click the images to find out about job opportunities in Public Health!