Graduate Student Internship Program

2008 Catalog of Internship Opportunities

This internship is now open—Apply Today!

MCH Epidemiologist/Program Analyst

Program: Maternal and Child Division
Duval County Health Department (DCHD), Jacksonville, FL
Skill Area: Data Analysis and Monitoring

Agency Information

The Duval County Health Department is a large urban State agency located in NE Florida close to Georgia. The Department staff is multi-disciplinary and consists of over 900 employees with a budget of $58 million. We offer a comprehensive approach to Public Health through a wide range of programs and services throughout the community. Some include but are not limited to Federal and State Healthy Start, WIC, Environmental Health, AmeriCorps, Family Health Centers, Chronic Disease Coalitions, School Health Nursing, Adolescent Medicine, Health Policy and Evaluation, Institutional Medicine, and Behavioral Health Services. The Division of Maternal and Child Healthy (MCH) delivers a wide array of service programs for residents throughout the life continuum: pre conceptual, prenatal and postpartum, infancy, childhood, adolescence and young adulthood.

Purpose, goals, and objectives of internship

Purpose: Since its implementation in Florida in 1991, the Healthy Start program has historically served all pregnant women and infants regardless of risk. During 2003-04, the DCHD Healthy Start program served over 11,000 participants and that figure increased to slightly over 12,000 participants in 2005-06. Case manager caseloads hovered above the 100 participants mark per case manger during the early years of implementation. Lastly, and most significant is the fact that the program served only 100 of the highest risk pregnant women and infants in 2005-06. In an effort to provide more meaningful contact and to reach those truly in need with existing resources, the program model was revised in July 2005. The transition to a moderate - high risk model has now been in place since July 2005. In 2006-07, the program served 590 highest risk prenatal women and infant families. The purpose of this project is to analyze the following: 1) Who is the DCHD highest risk participant? What risks does she carry into the pregnancy? Was she served in Healthy Start prior to this pregnancy? 2) Are there commonalities among participants? 3) How long did participants stay in the program? What was the level of intensity? 4) What types of services did they receive? and, 5) What were the birth outcomes of these prenatal participants? The outcome of this project will be useful in recommendations for future program planning.

Goal: To determine a profile of highest risk participants served, the type and length of service delivery (intensity), and, birth outcomes.

Objective: To conduct a data analysis of approximately 600 highest risk participant charts during the period, July-June 2006-07 and by utilizing relevant databases (State, Vital Statistics, etc.) and resources pertinent to the project.

Work products: A process paper (describes the steps involved in the data analysis process to complete project) and a Final Project paper (analyzes the population under study to include answers to the questions cited in the Purpose section of this application). The Process paper will help establish a protocol for future data analyses. The Final paper will summarize the findings of the project and include recommendations. The findings will be presented via PowerPoint to at the MCH Division and one external partner.

Data or analytic tasks and activities

• Analyze charts of approximately 600 highest risk woman and infant participants for the time period July-June 2006-07. This will include confirmation of documentation between charts and the computerized state database.
• Analyze the state database of service delivery (HMS) to determine the length and scope of services provided.
• Analyze Vital Statistics database and HMS database to link birth data to prenatal participants.
• Create a database with an accompanying report on the risk profile including commonalities among participants (including demographics), service history, analysis of services by type and score, status of risk resolution, and birth outcome. Provide graphs and charts to accompany data.
• Conduct a statistical analysis of findings.

Data or analytic skills required

Excel, SPSS, Access, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Vital Statistics analysis, Ability to analyze, interpret data and draw conclusions, Ability to complete statistical analyses, Ability to produce graphs and charts.

Supervisors

Carolyn Arnister, MA, DCHD/Maternal and Child Health, Healthy Start Program Coordinator

Carol Synkewecz, MPH, DCHD/Maternal and Child Health Division Director and
Representative, Vital Statistics Office

Internship begins

Fall 2008

Housing

The Intern would be responsible for his/her housing accommodations, but we can offer information, resources, and advice if needed.

Transportation

Public transportation is limited to a bus system which has stops at the health department. Since the Jacksonville metropolitan area is geographically spread out, personal car is recommended.