University of Alabama at Birmingham

Problem:

Many states in the South and the nation lack a sufficient cadre of trained MCH professionals to address traditional MCH needs. The need has never been greater for well-trained leaders, who can provide the vision and direction to meet the many rapidly evolving challenges facing the MCH population.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: GOAL 1.0: Provide a graduate education program of excellence designed to educate and prepare public health professionals for leadership roles in Maternal and Child Health; Objective 1: Objective 1.1: Annually, enroll 20+ new MCH students (~18+ MPH and ~2+ DrPH); Objective 2: Objective 1.2: Annually, new student enrollment will include 30+% non-Alabama resident students to expand coverage to geographically underserved areas; Objective 3: Objective 1.3: Annually, new student enrollment will include 35+% minority students; Goal 2: GOAL 2.0: Provide continuing education, technical assistance and professional consultation: Objective 1: Objective 2.1: Annually, perform 3+ continuing education (CE) activities per FTE faculty; Objective 2: Objective 2.2: Annually, add 2+ new CE modules to the department’s distance learning website; Objective 3: Objective 2.3: Annually, perform a CE needs assessment survey of alumni; and perform 5+ technical assistance (TA) or community consultation activities per FTE faculty. Goal 3: GOAL 3.0: Develop and disseminate new knowledge through the conduct of research and other scholarly activities: Objective 1: Objective 3.1: Annually, publish 2+ peer-reviewed articles per FTE faculty and provide 2+ research presentations per faculty; Objective 2: Objective 3.2: Annually, develop 1+ technical report per FTE faculty; Objective 3: Objective 3.3: Annually, hold 4+ noon seminars on research topics. Goal 4: GOAL 4.0: Advocate for the MCH population: Objective 1: Objective 4.1: Annually, publish 3+ policy reports; Objective 2: Objective 4.2: Annually, provide 5+ public service presentations; Objective 3: Objective 4.3: Annually, hold 2+ noon seminars on policy topics.

Methodology:

The Department of Maternal and Child Health offers four graduate degree programs: the Master of Public Health (MPH), which consists of two tracks (a one-year Advanced Leadership and Practice Program and a two-year Enhanced Skills Program, each with three emphasis areas: 1) MCH epidemiology and analytical skills, 2) MCH program administration, policy and advocacy, and 3) MCH international and global health), the coordinated MPH/MSN, the coordinated MPH/MSW, and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). The Department engages in continuing education, technical assistance, consultation, research, dissemination and advocacy. The department maintains a website designed to provide ongoing access to continuing education materials and technical reports. Further, the department conducts a monthly noon seminar series that hosts presentations on research and policy topics. Each of these activities targets one or more of the stated project objectives

Coordination:

The general direction of the degree programs, continuing education, technical assistance, consultation, research, dissemination and advocacy activities are determined in conjunction with the department’s Advisory Board-- a culturally diverse, multi-disciplinary group of representatives of public and private agencies serving MCH populations and academic institutions. The program coordinates its efforts with the UAB MCH Collaborative Network, a partnership of MCHB funded training programs.

Evaluation:

The goals of the program are linked to documented attribute descriptors and performance objectives that include specified time frames for accomplishment. Faculty performance information is obtained from the UAB SPH Annual Faculty Activity Report. MCH Student Database information is linked with information obtained from an Annual MCH Graduate Survey. Information from these data sources is used to assess the department’s success in meeting identified performance indicators on an annual basis.

Experience to Date:

For the first year of this grant cycle the UAB Department of MCH accomplished nearly all of the objectives outlined in the approved grant application. We met our goals for student recruitment and enrollment, for diversity among our students and for enrolling more than 50% health professionals seeking additional training. We also met our goals to enhance our curriculum to better meet the needs of working professionals by joining with others in the SOPH to make the MPH curriculum more flexible and thus more responsive to the needs of public health professionals. The faculty continued to be highly productive in terms of teaching courses that provide content and skills necessary for achieving excellence in public health practice and research. Students were involved with faculty in writing numerous professional manuscripts that were published in top-level peer-reviewed journals. Further, students were co-presenters with faculty at national and state meetings. Some of our proudest accomplishments occur as we witness our trainees become passionate advocates for the MCH population at the local, state and national levels.