|
Problem:
While there have been dramatic improvements in the health status of the MCH population over the last century, new problems and threats have emerged; disparities in health outcomes remain. The MCH workforce requires continual strengthening of its knowledge and skill base to address these problems.
Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: To provide comprehensive public health MCH training, that fosters the use of evidence-based decision-making and the translation of data into information and action.
Objective 1: By 2005 (and beyond), 100% of MPH students will participate in curricula that: support the achievement of ATMCH and related competencies, and ensure that 90% will be in entry/middle-level leadership positions in MCH practice within 5 years of graduation.
Objective 2: By 2005 (and beyond), 100% of PhD students will participate in curricula that: support the achievement of ATMCH and related competencies at an advanced level, and ensure that 90% will obtain leadership positions in MCH academe/practice within 5 years of graduation.
Goal 2: To conduct high-quality research to reduce health disparities and improve the health status of women, children, and their families.
Objective 1: By 2005 (and beyond), at least 75% of MCHP faculty will disseminate research findings through scientific presentations or peer-reviewed publications.
Objective 2: By 2005 (and beyond), 100% of MPH and PhD (MS) students will participate in research experiences that contribute to increasing their analytic skills and to the improvement of MCH public health service delivery.
Goal 3: To build the capacity of the public health delivery system to provide high quality MCH population-based and individual level services.
Objective 1: By 2005 (and beyond), provide a National MCH Leadership Conference: Translating Research into MCH Public Health Practice.
Objective 2: By 2005 (and beyond), provide a variety of other continuing education (CE) offerings to meet the diverse needs of the MCH workforce in Chicago and Regions V and VII.
Objective 3: By 2005 (and beyond), provide technical assistance to MCH and related agencies regarding health needs and the planning, delivery and evaluation of MCH public health services.
Methodology:
1) Recruit and enroll a diverse, well-qualified student body to the graduate programs through improved marketing and targeted financial support. 2) Implement skills-based MPH and PhD curricula that focus on the MCH life course and health status and prepare students to design, implement and evaluate scientifically-based, family-centered, culturally competent MCH interventions. 3) Develop three new core MCH courses and ensure that the courses are available for MPH students in satellite programs in Rockford and Peoria. 4)Market new MCH courses to satellite programs associated with the UIC School of Public Health to increase the reach of our programs to rural parts of Illinois. 5)Seek funding to deliver the core courses as an MCH Certificate Program. 6)Sponsor an annual National MCH Leadership Conference and videotape/archive main sessions on the MCHP website. 7))Offer a variety of CE activities to meet the needs of diverse partners and communities. This includes a new program, Leadership Pathways, designed to explore leadership capacity in the MCH workforce. 8)Provide technical assistance and consultation to diverse partners and communities. 9)Use the MCHatUIC listserv and the MCH Conference listserv to disseminate information about MCH related issues and research findings to diverse partners and communities. 10) Engage in cutting-edge scholarly research with multiple agency and community partners, funded by a variety of sources, and disseminate findings through diverse venues.
Coordination:
Staff and or faculty from the Illinois Public Health Agencies (IDHS, IDPH, IDPA, IDSSC, CDPH), multiple additional Title V agencies in other Region V and VII states, LEND, LEAH and PPC projects in Regions V and VII, and of a variety of not-for-profit organizations and community-based organizations serve as research collaborators, preceptors for student practica, guest and adjunct faculty, and members of our MCHP Advisory Committee and our National Conference Planning Committee.
Evaluation:
Ongoing program monitoring will be used to document performance in adhering to our objectives and planned activities. Data collection for all process measures will be ongoing throughout each project year; analysis will take place on an annual basis. The outcome evaluation builds on data collected through the process evaluation but uses the information to judge progress toward achievement of the objectives rather than just documentation of completion of an activity.
Experience to Date:
During the last year, 33 students were enrolled in our MPH/ program and 7 graduated; 21 doctoral students were enrolled in the program and 1 graduated. Our student body is diverse: 48% White, 24% African-American, 11% Hispanic, and 17% Asian or Pacific Islander. Students were enrolled in either core Leadership or MCH Epidemiology curricula. Through their practica, field experiences, and Master's papers/dissertations, students directly contributed to improving the health of the MCH population. Several students received major awards. Recent graduates obtained employment in a variety of settings including HRSA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Iowa Department of Health. The MCHP was also involved in the development of three new core courses and explored various options for making the courses available to our satellite campuses in Peoria and Rockford; this exploration is ongoing. The MCHP was also involved in many CE activities including the annual, national MCH Leadership Conference which took place in May 2006 (130 participants/16 states). The MCHP continued to manage two listservs: the MCHatUIC listserv (207 participants) and the MCHConference listserv (102 participants). In addition, the MCHP faculty/students were involved in a variety of research projects to improve MCH and disseminated this work to diverse audiences and in a variety of settings including research meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops.
|
