Funded Projects

Problem:

Problem The purpose of the MCHLTP is to support and strengthen the education, research and service mission of the BSPH MCH faculty within the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: To prepare research doctoral and professional practice doctoral students for leadership careers in MCH. Objective 1: Years 1-5, 6 MCHLTP doctoral students are funded Objective 2: Years 1-5, MCH-related theses completed for 3 PFHS doctoral graduates Objective 3: Years 1-5, 2 MCHLTP doctoral students take MCH leadership positions Goal 2: To prepare professional graduates through course work and seminars covering core public health functions and performance objectives concerning MCH and related programs. Objective 1: Years 1-5, 3 funded MSPH trainees complete the program Objective 2: Years 1-5, 18 MPH students complete child health or women's and reproductive health concentration Objective 3: Years 1-5, 5 MHS students complete an essay and 15 MPH students complete a capstone project on an MCH topic Goal 3: To provide continuing education (CE) responsive to the identified needs of professionals in the field. Objective 1: Years 1-5, critical thinking skills workshops and modules offered to MCH professionals Objective 2: Years 1-5, 2 MCH courses in BSPH CE institutes Objective 3: Year 1-5, new MCH courses offered on-line related to adolescent health, maternal and child nutrition or women's health Goal 4: To provide consultation and technical assistance to state and local Title V agencies and other public and private MCH related agencies. Objective 1: By year 5, MCHLPT faculty consults with least 10 state and local MCH programs Objective 2: By year 5, MCH faculty participate in 20 MCH-related boards or committees Objective 3: MCHLTP disseminates policy brief or position paper to Title V organizations translating current MCH research Goal 5: To conduct and disseminate research and other scholarly activities related to the study, analysis and interpretation of health problems and service delivery to MCH populations Objective 1: By year 5, MCHLTP faculty receive funds for at least 5 MCH-related research projects Objective 2: By year 5, promote at least one junior faculty member Objective 3: Years 1-5, MCHLTP faculty publish on average at least 2 research articles per year

Methodology:

MCHLTP faculty represents various professional health and related disciplines. The MCHLTP provides a strong voice for MCH at BSPH, drawing students from the PFRH MSPH, DrPH, and PhD programs, the school-wide MPH program and other departments. The curriculum covers core MCH knowledge, MCH and related programs and policies for women, children and families, acquisition of skills related to leadership, public health practice and research, ethics in conducting research and professional practice, and cultural diversity and competence. Emphasis is placed on the science base of MCH and development of quantitative analytical skills. Attention also is paid to health policy development and analysis, and the curriculum addresses the ATMCH leadership competencies. The PFRH MSPH, PhD and DrPH programs have established curricula and offer elective courses which provide comprehensive breadth and in depth training experiences for students interested in MCH. Students are grounded in the history and current implementation of Title V programs. The MCHLTP program provides continuing education related to critical thinking skills through courses in MCH institutes, distance education courses and software development. Faculty also provides consultation and TA, and the WCHPC disseminates translational materials to MCH programs. Conduct of faculty research and inclusion of cultural competence into MCH courses are program priorities as is integration of the MCHLTP with other JHU MCHB training programs.

Coordination:

The MCHLTP maintains historically active collaborative relationships with MCHB, regional state MCH agencies within PHS/Region III, Title V Training Projects and other community-based MCH related projects in public and private sectors. The program is administered through the Women's and Children's Health Policy Center, with collaborative relationships with several major JHU Centers.

Evaluation:

Long-term trainees are evaluated by established academic methods including: written exams, comprehensive oral exams, completion of supervised field placements, and for doctoral students: preliminary oral examination and the traditional thesis defense. All courses and instructors are evaluated by students. The program maintains a database on courses, students, graduates, products of faculty and grants funded. These databases will be used to evaluate the 10 overall MCHLTP objectives.

Experience to Date:

MCH courses draw students widely from the School of Public Health: from Population, Family and Reproductive Health (PFRH), MPH students advised by PFRH faculty and students from other departments; course enrollment increased and overall, 75 percent of students in MCH-related courses were from other departments. Five doctoral and 7 MSPH students were funded in 2010-11, and 25 MPH students affiliated with PFRH graduated in May. Two MSPH students completed funded internships with the Baltimore City Health Department and Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Faculty mentored 28 MPH capstone projects and 7 doctoral students on theses about MCH-related concerns. A full day workshop was conducted on the Life Course Perspective on Health for the Mid-Atlantic LEND faculty. A workshop and on-line module was developed about writing policy briefs and is available on the WCHPC website. PFRH faculty and students are highly successful at publishing and obtaining research grants and collaborate with and provide extensive technical assistance to local, state, and federal MCH agencies and national and international organizations concerned with health of the MCH population. An MCH Nutrition and International Adolescent Health course were offered for the first time on-line. All major MCH courses cover diversity and disparities in health, and content related to cultural competence has been enhanced in major courses; a seminar series on race and research is offered by the Urban Health Institute.