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Problem:
This program develops leadership in public health to advance the health and well-being of families and children in the NW and nationally. We achieve this by creating new knowledge about current problems and by collaborating with community and govern't partners to improve systems, programs, policies.
Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: Train effective leaders in MCH by combining explicit leadership skills and interdisciplinary training with rigorous, research-based study in the Public Health Sciences of Health Services or Epi.
Objective 1: The MCH Program will educate 30 Master of Public Health students (“long-term trainees”) in its in-residence or Extended Degree MPH (distance learning option) programs per year and graduate approximately 15 each year
Objective 2: The Program will support the development of professional leadership skills among its trainees through a variety of mentored and interdisciplinary learning opportunities
Objective 3: The Program will maintain an interdisciplinary faculty who will model inderdisciplinary problem-solving for trainees and create interdisciplinary learning opportunities.
Goal 2: To support the continuing education and development needs of MCH practitioners in the NW by serving as a regional resource for continuing education, distance learning, consultation, and TA in MCH.
Objective 1: We will seek resources for, and lead in the assessment of continuing education and distance learning needs and preferences among MCH practitioners in the Northwestern states.
Objective 2: We will maintain at least 2 resources and information Websites for MCH trainees, the practice community (including parents), on important, newly-emerging MCH topics.
Objective 3: We will continue to publish the "Northwest Bulletin: Family and Child Health" and distribute it to MCH practitioners throughout the Northwest (at least 2 issues per year).
Goal 3: Assist our Title V partners, community and child advocates in Region X and other Northwestern states through information sharing and data development
Objective 1: The Program will continue to publish annually the State of Washington’s Children report and distribute it to over 1000 MCH leaders and policy-makers in the state.
Objective 2: All students in the Program will be given training in lobbying, media skills, and the use of data for public education.
Objective 3: The Program will assure the relevance of its web-based resource on children’s health promotion for health and social service providers, educators, paraprofessionals and parents by engaging theses consumers as reviewers to assure the relevance of the form and content of these resourses
Goal 4: Develop and disseminate new knowledge through research and analysis of known and emerging problems that affect MCH populations and of health policy issues related to service for children and families.
Objective 1: On average, MCH faculty will publish at least 2 peer-reviewed articles per year in important areas of MCH.
Objective 2: More than one-third of student theses will be published or presented at peer-reviewed professional or scientific conferences.
Objective 3: Each faculty member will participate in, and provide leadership to, an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Washington (e.g. with Pediatrics, Social Work, Bio-Cultural Anthropology, Nursing, Pediatric Dentistry).
Goal 5: Program Faculty will build awareness of the importance of MCH Public Health in the health and well-being of children, families and communities and increase support of MCH funding, including training.
Objective 1: The Program will attract new partners, especially from the private sector, to expand our base for collaborative research and training opportunities.
Objective 2: The Program will expand its advisory board to include parents and youth to assure our outreach and public education efforts are meaningful to the MCH population.
Objective 3: The Program will establish relationships with elected officials at the local, state and national level and keep them appraised of our training, technical assistance, and community outreach activities.
Methodology:
Our main training activity is graduate education of public health specialists leading to the degree of Master of Public Health (MPH). At the University of Washington, an MPH with an emphasis in MCH requires two years of coursework and a thesis. A practicum experience in a public or community non-profit agency is also required. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds including medicine, psychiatry, nursing and social work. Our core faculty spans pediatrics, nursing, social work, obstetrics, nutrition, physical therapy, epidemiology, and child psychology. The majority of our students specialize in the Department of Health Services, the remainder in the Department of Epidemiology. In addition to the in-residence program, we offer an MPH through the Extended Degree Program, as a part-time, three-year program. Most EDP students are full-time employees of public health agencies located throughout the Western states. Two other pathways are available. Advanced students in Health Services can choose a concentration in MCH that allows them to focus elective credits in a specific subpopulation or content area and pursue a dissertation study under the mentorship of a core member of the MCH faculty. A less intense alternative is a certificate in MCH. The certificate is designed for students in other tracks within the MPH program (e.g., International Health) and students in degree programs outside the School of Public Health and Community Medicine (e.g., Nursing or Psychology).
Coordination:
MCH faculty provide consultation and technical assistance to a variety of public and community agencies at the local, state, national, and international level. The faculty organizes and participates in continuing education programs for professionals from many MCH-related disciplines. Through membership in community and governmental committees and task forces, through public statements, and by working with various legislative bodies, faculty serves as advocates for mothers, children, and families.
Evaluation:
Ongoing and comprehensive evaluation with input from students, alumni, community stakeholders and faculty peers. Confidential written students evaluations of core classes. Annual student-faculty retreat. Electronic survey of graduates that follows their leadership development. Yearly alumni reception for faculty, administrators, and current students to hear from graduates. University faculty evaluate courses routinely. Periodic evaluations by the School of Public Health and the Graduate School.
Experience to Date:
The MCH Program admitted its first class of students in 1985. Since then we have graduated 172 MPH students who have pursued a variety of professional activities. Some have gone on for further academic training; some work for public health and community agencies; and some are faculty members and/or researchers. Currently 37 long term trainees are enrolled in the MPH program, 28 in the in-residence programs and 9 through the Extended Degree Program; 5 students are pursuing MCH topics within the doctoral training program of the department of Health Services and Epidemiology and 2 are enrolled in the certificate program.
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