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Problem:
Adolescents have many preventable problems. Investing in the health of youth requires trained health professionals qualified to partner with agencies. The Boston LEAH Program, guided by MCH goals, trains culturally competent leaders in 5 disciplines, provides CE and TA, and disseminates scholarship
Goals and Objectives: Goal 1: To provide interdisciplinary training of professionals for leadership roles by assuring them skills to become clinicians, teachers, policymakers, advocates, administrators, and researchers
Objective 1: By the end of training, Fellows will demonstrate knowledge and skills in 1.1 adolescent health; 1.2 interdisciplinary care; 1.3 health care models and program development; 1.4 cultural competency; 1.5 quality improvement (QI); 1.6 teaching; 1.7 evaluation and 1.8 conduct of research.
Objective 2: By the end of training, Fellows will demonstrate knowledge and skills in 1.9 legal/ethical principles; 1.10 advocacy; and 1.11 involvement of youth and families in program planning.
Objective 3: By the end of the grant period, Boston LEAH will have provided 1.12 Long-term Training for leadership positions; 1.13 Training to short term and intermediate term trainees; and demonstrated that Long-term Fellows will have achieved 1.14 leadership in adolescent health at follow-up.
Goal 2: To work toward improved health status of adolescents, quality care, and HP 2010 Adol Objectives through partnerships with professionals, youth, families, and community organizations
Objective 1: 2.1 Fellows and faculty will demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration and interagency networking to enhance the development and implementation of youth focused programs, community based care, and continuing professional education, using the Bright Futures model.
Objective 2: 2.2 Fellows and faculty will partner with Title V agencies and projects, the MCH Regional office, MCH training programs, Schools of Public Health, SPRANS, and the State Adolescent Health Coordinators (SAHCs) in Region I and nationally.
Objective 3: 2.3 Fellows will use theoretical frameworks of prevention to guide the design and implementation of community based interventions and research or evaluation projects.
Goal 3: To advance scholarship by developing model youth/family focused, culturally competent programs; providing CE and TA; and by disseminating knowledge to enhance capacity building with Title V programs.
Objective 1: By the end of the grant, the LEAH program will provide 3.1 Model interdisciplinary clinical care; 3.2 Continuing education courses; 3.3 Dissemination of knowledge; 3.4 Technical Assistance; and 3.5 Teaching materials
Objective 2: By the end of the grant, the program will demonstrate 3.6-3.8 faculty development and productivity;the importance of public health research, interdisciplinary care, reduction of disparities, and translation of research findings to influence health policy to improve the care of adolescents.
Objective 3: By the end of the grant, the LEAH program will demonstrate excellence in follow-up evaluations and meeting the (3.9) MCH Performance Measures.
Methodology:
The Boston LEAH Program provides interdisciplinary leadership training in adolescent health to nurses, social workers, physicians, psychologists, and nutritionists. Fellows participate in a rigorous interdisciplinary Leadership curriculum which includes a Leadership Lecture Series; Seminars in Program Development, Advocacy, and Prevention (PDAP), Adolescent Psychological Development, Cultural Competency, School Health, Psychiatry, Nutrition, Reproductive Endocrinology and Gynecology, Eating Disorders, Research, and Teaching. Fellows learn clinical skills in in hospital-based and community-based programs. Fellows participate in teaching activities, learn about QI, health care financing, systems of care, involve youth and families in planning, and conduct cutting-edge research. The Faculty provide continuing education and technical assistance, disseminate scholarship through teaching and publications, and collaborate with MCH agencies and MCH related organizations to serve MCH populations.
Coordination:
Boston LEAH provide model collaborations with the MCH programs and SAHCs, including convening a Regional Advisory Committee. Faculty consult to Title V projects, agencies, and professional organizations. Examples of collaborations have included an annual “Adolescents and HIV” training (AIDS Bureau; MDPH), Governor’s Health Council (MDPH); teaching at the HSPH; substance abuse curriculum with MCH Behavioral Pediatrics and Poison Center; and initiatives with LENDS, PPCs, and other LEAHs.
Evaluation:
Evaluations, linked to goals and objectives, involve quantitative and qualitative assessments. Process evaluations include clinical activity, numbers of trainees, CE programs, presentations, publications, grants, websites, and TA. The trainees are assessed by faculty evaluation of assignments, clinical skills, grants, papers, presentations, and leadership. Long-term evaluations are accomplished through assessments of curriculum, retreats, and follow-up surveys of previous fellows.
Experience to Date:
1992-2006. From 1992-2006, the Boston LEAH has trained (or has in training) 111 Long term trainees/Fellows (20% from underrepresented groups). From 1997-2006 the Boston LEAH Program directed or co-directed over 40 CE courses in adolescent health; provided over 1800 substantive technical assistance consultations; gave over 2200 presentations to academic institutions, schools and lay audiences with over 120,000 attendees; and published over 650 articles, chapters, books, videotapes, cases, abstracts, and internet resources (4 new websites). For 2005-06, the LEAH Program has trained 15 long term trainees, 62 intermediate term trainees, and 181 short term trainees. LEAH has directed 5 CE courses, given over 230 presentations to over 18,000 participants, provided over 370 substantive consultations, and published over 60 articles, chapters, videotapes, and internet resources. Faculty have served on national and regional committees in adolescent health including SAM, NASPAG, APHA, APA, American Board of Pediatrics, and the Massachusetts Governor’s Adolescent Health Council.
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