University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Problem:

The primary purpose of the UW Milwaukee MCH Pipeline Training Initiative is to develop an exemplary undergraduate training program that will prepare future OT and SLP professionals from underrepresented groups to serve children with special health care needs and their families.

Goals and Objectives:

The UW-Milwaukee MCH Pipeline Training Initiative has three primary goals. The first goal is to recruit, retain, and prepare OT and SLP undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to be ready to enter graduate programs in their respective fields. As professionals, they will be able to provide evidence-based, culturally competent, interdisciplinary services to children with special health care needs and their families. Second, the UW-Milwaukee MCH Pipeline Training Initiative will educate undergraduate students in emerging public health issues related to maternal and child health. Third, materials and curricula will be developed and disseminated so that they can serve as resources for underrepresented and financially disadvantaged students in OT and SLP programs nationally. Objectives for the UW-Milwaukee MCH Pipeline Training Initiative are listed below and numbered to match their respective goals: Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and prepare OT and SLP undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to be ready to enter graduate programs in their respective fields. 1a. Eight undergraduate students per year (4 OT and 4 SLP)will be recruited from underrepresented groups for a total of 40 (20 OT and 20 SLP) students in 5 years. 1b. Eight undergraduate students (4 OT and 4 SLP) from underrepresented groups will receive formalized instruction in interdisciplinary practice, leadership, family-centered care, maternal and child health practices and population health research within 1 summer session and 1 academic year. 1c. Retain and promote 8 undergraduate students (4 OT and 4 SLP) from underrepresented groups through one academic year and one summer semester as they complete their undergraduate preparation and apply for graduate studies with a focus on maternal and child health careers. Goal 2: Educate undergraduate students in emerging public health issues related to maternal and child health. 2a. Pipeline Trainees will gain a appreciation of the value of long term MCH Leadership training by having them: (a) meet with Wisconsin MCH LEND Program Trainees 2 times per year; and (b) partner with MCH LEND trainees for mentoring. 2b. Eight pipeline trainees per year will be prepared to develop an understanding of emerging clinical and research issues in maternal and child health care through participation in online discussions with the LEND trainees through web-based instructional program during the fall and spring semesters. Goal 3: Develop materials and curricula so that they can serve as resources for underrepresented and financially disadvantaged students in OT and SLP programs nationally. 3a. Create 5 modules per semester for dissemination annually to OT and SLP programs throughout the area. 3b. Disseminate information to other MCHPTP programs by uploading information to web page and engaging in MCHPTP meetings annually.

Methodology:

The UW-Milwaukee MCH Pipeline Training Initiative will be conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, one of the premier urban institutions in the Midwest. UW-Milwaukee contains the largest number of health degree programs in the region and is nationally known for its teaching and research excellence. The Departments of Occupational Therapy and Communication Sciences and Disorders are recognized as leaders in their respective professions and have a long history of recruiting and retaining students from underrepresented and financially disadvantaged groups. The Pipeline program will utilize individual development plans and portfolios to help ensure that the students are making adequate progress toward meeting project and personal goals. The training opportunities include (1) participation in a 3 credit interdisciplinary teaming course that involves didactic instruction and field-based experiences; (2) participation in 2 MCH seminars that focus on leadership, serving children with special health care needs and their families from underserved populations, emerging issues in public health with an emphasis on maternal and child health, and population-based research; (3) participation in interviews and observation experiences with leaders in public health and population based research careers; (4) review of community needs assessments and reports by Wisconsin Title V agencies; (5) participation in the development and implementation of a ½ day workshop hosting the Wisconsin MCH LEND trainees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; (6) dissemination of curricular modules and materials to OT and SLP programs nationally (7) participation in the OT and SLP undergraduate curriculum. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 GOALS: The proposed project is committed to training OT and SLP students in regard to national health promotion and disease prevention objectives described in Healthy People 2010. a. Health Promotion - UW-Milwaukee is located in an urban setting which has the worst infant mortality rate for African Americans in the state of Wisconsin. Through didactic learning experiences, students will develop an understanding of the 2 objectives of Healthy People 2010 (increasing quality and years of healthy life and reducing health disparities) and will apply their knowledge to the urban population. In addition, students will learn about how children with special health care needs and their families may experience physical activity, and access health services and medical care throughout the state of Wisconsin. b. Reduce Health Disparities -The College of Health Sciences has an Office of Diversity that supports the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). HCOP is designed to mentor students from underrepresented groups beginning in the fourth grade through acceptance to and graduation from the allied health programs. Affiliated with the College of Health Sciences are Partnerships for Healthy Milwaukee and the Center for Urban Population Health. The mission of these two organizations is to reduce health disparities through community-academic partnerships. Together, these programs and organizations have the potential to help us provide exemplary training for OT and SLP students and to provide an environment which will support the recruitment of students from racial/ethnic minority and/or poverty backgrounds. The proposed project will introduce students to the state of Wisconsin’s Title V Needs Assessment which emphasizes improving health care services to women and children and strengthening families who reside in communities with limited access to comprehensive care. Trainees will gain an understanding of the barriers to accessing health care while developing knowledge and skills to reduce health disparities in underserved populations. In addition, trainees will review publications from Title V initiatives within the state of Wisconsin including (1) the Wisconsin Medical Home Learning Collaborative for Children with Special Health Care Needs sponsored by the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality and the Center for Medical Home Improvement and, (2) the Family Health Program. The Family Health Program is designed to improve the health of women, children (including children with special health care needs) and families based on their health needs from birth to early childhood, during the school age and teen years, through young adulthood and the childbearing years including pregnancy. Trainees will develop an understanding of the Medical Home Concept and the Family Health Program so that they are able to foster relationships between State Agencies and the primary care community to provide services to underserved populations.

Coordination:

The proposed project will link with Partnerships for Healthy Milwaukee, the Center for Urban Population Health, and the Wisconsin MCH LEND Program. These programs will facilitate training that is responsive to underserved children with special health care needs and their families. UW-Milwaukee MCH Pipeline Trainees will interact with leaders who specialize in urban health initiatives and will be mentored by MCH LEND Trainees. UW-Milwaukee MCH Pipeline Trainees will have multiple opportunities to interview and observe leaders in public health and population-based research. In addition, MCH Pipeline Trainees will review community needs assessments and other published reports by Title V agencies in the state of Wisconsin.

Evaluation:

Evaluation and monitoring includes collection, analysis and review of data through internal and external processes. Data will be collected on numbers and types of trainees, activities of trainees, and curricula. Collaborative agreements and training modules will be reviewed annually and maintained by the project director and project support staff. Students will be required to fill out a data information sheet in the spring semester of each year. Because the goal is to have students enroll in the OT and SLP graduate programs, students will be followed and data will be maintained through graduation from all students respective graduate programs. Data regarding the trainees will be maintained in a database and will include race/ethnicity, gender, discipline at entry, degrees at entry, position at entry, degree program enrolled, type of support, and activities/projects that the students has been involved in. Data will be reviewed by the Advisory Board annually to determine the impact of the proposed project and to implement changes to the program as needed.