MCH Training Program - News

October Pediatrics Publishes Three Articles Co-Authored by MCH Training Grantees

The October issue of Pediatrics includes three articles co-authored by MCH Training grantees in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. Dr. Laura Sices, faculty member of the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics program at Case Western Reserve University, co-authored two articles including PEDS and ASQ Developmental Screening Tests May Not Identify the Same Children and Sugar-coaters and Straight Talkers:  Communicating About Developmental Delays in Primary Care. Dr. Nathan Blum, Project Director of the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, co-authored the article entitled Identifying Learning Problems in Children Evaluated for ADHD:  The Academic Performance Questionnaire.

Infant Mortality and Pregnancy Loss Knowledge Path

The Maternal and Child Health Library released a new edition of the knowledge path, Infant Mortality and Pregnancy Loss. The knowledge path points to current resources that analyze data, report on research aimed at identifying causes and promising intervention strategies, and describe risk-reduction efforts as well as bereavement-support programs. Separate sections present resources about factors that contribute to infant mortality and pregnancy loss: birth defects, injuries, low birthweight and prematurity, and safe sleep environment. The knowledge path is designed for health professionals, policymakers, researchers, and families. It is available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_infmort.html. Knowledge paths on other maternal and child health (MCH) topics are available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/index.html.

"Hot Topics" in Pediatric Nutrition On-Line Education

University Of Alabama At Birmingham
(3-Hour Course)
July 2009 - July 2010

"Hot Topics" in pediatric nutrition this year focuses on medical aspects that can impact childhood obesity. The first 2 speakers present the role of sleep and early feeding and their impact on obesity in later childhood. The final presentation focuses on the role of genetics in determining the risk for pediatric obesity.

For registration information, see website http://adolescent.chsys.org or contact Charlene Rhoades at (205) 939-9254.

New Case Added to the PPC "Cross Cultural Case Studies"

New! A sixth and final case, "A Day in Sleep Clinic: Moving from Health Disparities to Health Equity" has been added to the PPC "Cross Cultural Case Studies". Available at the same site as the original cases (http://support.mchtraining.net/national_ccce/), this case follows Dr. Brent Williams through clinic visits with three families and explores the many socio-cultural factors that contribute to health disparities. The sixth case follows the same format of the previous cases, including story, lecture, interactive learning exercises, key concepts and resources. With the addition of this case, the PPC Cross Cultural Case Studies now meet all the competencies identified by the American Association of Medical Colleges in their "Tools for Assessing Cultural Competence Training" (http://www.aamc.org/meded/tacct/start.htm).

MCH Training Consortium at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Highlighted in Maternal and Child Health Journal Article

The MCH Training Consortium at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was highlighted in the following journal article:

The UNC-CH MCH Leadership Training Consortium: Building the Capacity to Develop Interdisciplinary MCH Leaders.
Maternal Child Health J 25 Jun 2009.

To read the PDF of the article, please click here.

MCH Pipeline Training Program Highlighted in Maternal and Child Health Journal Article

The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee MCH Pipeline Training Program was highlighted in the following journal article:

The Pipeline Training Program in Maternal and Child Health: Interdisciplinary Preparation of Undergraduate Students from Underrepresented Groups.
Maternal Child Health J 4 Jun 2009.

To read the PDF of the article, please click here.

Autism Spectrum Disorders Knowledge Path Now Available

The word is out about the new ASD Knowledge Path created by the MCH Library at Georgetown University. Reviewers of the Knowledge Path are saying that it provides an excellent list of resources with useful annotations for physicians and families alike. The Knowledge Path includes great links to web sites, electronic publications, distance learning resources, databases and electronic newsletters focused on ASD. If you are interested in finding a comprehensive training resource on ASD for your trainees, the ASD Knowledge Path has been created for you. If you have been looking for a reliable reference guide on ASD to recommend to families of children and youth with ASD, the ASD Knowledge Path has been created for you. Take advantage of this valuable resource by visiting http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_autism.html. If you have your own review of the Knowledge Path, please send it to smblorenzo@gmail.com. As always, the MCH Library strives to improve its content based on your important feedback.

Now Available, Online Access to the Newly Released 2007 National Survey of Children's Health

The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) is pleased to announce "point and click" online access to national- and state-level findings from the JUST RELEASED 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH).

Get and compare state-level data on over 100 child health indicators on topics such as obesity, insurance, medical home, mental health, risk for developmental delays, dental health. View findings by many subgroups of children, such as by household income, race/ethnicity, insurance coverage and health status.

Begin your customized data search on the online Data Resource Center website at www.childhealthdata.org.

State of Indiana Adolescent Health Strategic Plan Is Now Available. Indiana LEAH Faculty and Trainees Contribute Greatly to the Plan.

Picturing a Healthier Future: A State Strategic Plan for Indiana's Adolescents was released in May 2009. It is the state of Indiana's first adolescent health plan. The plan highlights ten health priority issues facing Indiana's adolescents. The Indiana Coalition to Improve Adolescent Health (ICIAH) was founded in 2006 and it spearheaded the development and publication of the plan. The Coalition was formed to promote the optimal health and well-being of all of Indiana's adolescents (ages 10-24) with an emphasis on prevention and access to quality, comprehensive health care. The Indiana LEAH program is a longstanding member of the Coalition. For more information about the Coalition and the plan, please visit here.

Important IOM Report on Adolescent Health Available Through the National Academies Press

Adolescent Health Services: Missing Opportunities is available for purchase or can be read for free online at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12063. The report examines the health status of adolescents and reviews the separate and uncoordinated programs and services delivered in multiple public and private health care settings. The report provides guidance to administrators in public and private health care agencies, health care workers, guidance counselors, parents, school administrators, and policy makers on investing in, strengthening, and improving an integrated health system for adolescents.

University of Pittsburgh LEND Co-Sponsors Photography Exhibit of Children with Special Needs

A photography exhibit co-sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh LEND program is the product of a yearlong project launched by UCLID in September. Graduate students from the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University partnered with local families of minority cultures, all of whom have a child with a disability. UCLID provided the children with digital cameras and the graduate students spent several weeks teaching the children how to take photographs. The children were then asked to capture images from their lives: things that are important to them, what their typical day is like, what they dream about. Reporters from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review covered the event for the newspaper.

For more information about this exhibit, please visit http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_618373.html or download the brochure here.

Follow-up article on the exhibit: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09106/963127-55.stm.

Evidence-Based Challenges in MCH - Case Studies

In 2008, the UIC MCH Program, with our MCH colleagues, developed four case studies for use in the 2008 MCH Leadership Retreat: Leadership, Legacy, and Community. The case studies address common evidence-based challenges in MCH: 1) The Intervention Works but Not for the Intended Problem: The Case of Prenatal Care and Low Birth Weight/Prematurity, 2) The Intervention Works But There is More Adherence/Uptake in Some Populations: The Case of Breastfeeding, 3) There is Deep Commitment to an Intervention by Some Key Groups but the Evidence Base is Limited: The Case of the Medical Home Model, 4) The Problem is Significant but There is No Known Prevention Intervention: The Case of Autism.

Each case study was designed to be used as the basis for a 3-hour workshop to help you take a closer look at the evidence-based challenges we face in MCH. In each case study you will find an overview of the case, a copy of the case study, discussion questions, discussion guidelines, facilitator instructions, and references. Please feel free to use as is or make modifications that suit your individual agency/organizational needs.

The link to two of the four case studies can be found at: http://www.uic.edu/sph/mch/continuing_education.htm

The Role of Nurses Highlighted in Recent Article on Provision of Adolescent Health Services

Article is in PDF format and can be reviewed here.

American Journal of Nursing (March 2009, Vol 109, No. 3)

Spanish-Language Health Resources

The Maternal and Child Health Library released a new edition of the knowledge path, Spanish-Language Health Resources. The knowledge path points to health hotlines and helplines, web sites, publications, and databases for health professionals and consumers. The knowledge path presents Spanish-language resources covering a wide range of health topics, including many of interest to the maternal and child health (MCH) community. The knowledge path is available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_spanish.html. A Spanish-language version of the 2009 edition is also being developed. Knowledge paths on other maternal and child health (MCH) topics are available at http://mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/.

Depression During and After Pregnancy

The Maternal and Child Health Library released a new edition of the knowledge path, Depression During and After Pregnancy. The knowledge path points to recent resources about the prevalence and incidence of perinatal depression, identification and treatment, impact on the health and well-being of a new mother and her infant, and implications for service delivery. Separate sections present resources for professionals (health professionals, policymakers, program administrators, and researchers) and for women experiencing perinatal depression and their families. The knowledge path is available at http://mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_postpartum.html. Knowledge paths on other maternal and child health (MCH) topics are available at http://mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/

DC LEND Forges Connection with Local School in its ASD Expansion

The Gazette, a Maryland Community Newspaper, had an article in its January 28th edition about the Children's National Medical Center LEND program which recently received ASD expansion funds under the Combating Autism Act. The program has forged a connection with Ivymount School and Outreach Program which serves just over 200 students from ages 4-21, and has programs for students with a wide range of disabilities including autism, Aspberger's Syndrome, and developmental delays. The school functions as a training ground for future professionals at Children's who may someday be working with children with autism. Through the partnership with the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children's, future child development professionals began rotations through the school this month — getting the chance to observe how children with autism are taught in a school setting. To read the full article, please visit http://www.gazette.net/stories/01282009/montnew205813_32484.shtml.