MCH Leadership Education in Behavioral Pediatrics
Grant Status: Active
Training Category: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Training Program
Project Director(s):
William Barbaresi, MD
Children's Hospital Corporation
Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Ave
2 Brookline Place - 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-355-4534
Email: William.barbaresi@childrens.harvard.edu
Problem:
Despite the rising prevalence of autism and developmental disabilities (autism/DD) and increased need for developmental, behavioral, and mental health support, the workforce needed to ensure timely diagnosis and care remains insufficient, further exacerbating health disparities. To expand workforce capacity, promote health equity, achieve Healthy People 2030 objectives, and improve the health and well-being of all children with autism/DD, there is an urgent need for qualified leaders in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) with outstanding MCH skills who acknowledge and are committed to addressing disparities in access and care and who collaborate with multiple disciplines in clinical care, teaching, and research.
Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: To prepare fellows in DBP and other long-term trainees (LTT) for leadership roles as teachers, researchers, and clinicians prepared to sustain and advance the field toward the highest quality and most accessible interdisciplinary care for all children with autism/DD and other behavioral health concerns across the lifespan, maintaining a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and access (EDIBA). Goal 2: To build the broader workforce and expand community capacity to evaluate and diagnose children with autism/DD and other behavioral health concerns with the goal of increasing access to patient- and family centered, culturally responsive care, systems, and policies across the lifespan. Goal 3: To strengthen public health capacity and the workforce for MCH by promoting equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and access to create a more culturally responsive workforce and to foster pediatric health equity. Goal 4: To advance the field of DBP through collaborative partnerships, clinical and educational innovations, and dissemination of DBP knowledge to optimize equitable health outcomes in children with autism/DD. HP2030 Objectives: Leading Health Indicators addressed include health equity and access to health care, mental health, and substance abuse. Focus areas include: disability, maternal, infant, and child health, access to health services, and social determinants of health.
Methodology:
Our training program will allow fellows to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies in DBP and MCH leadership through 1. Clinical care in tertiary care and community settings; 2. Comprehensive interdisciplinary curriculum covering principles of DBP, MCH, teaching, research, leadership, and cultural responsiveness and humility; 3. Opportunities to train and provide education and technical assistance to community providers and medium- and short-term trainees; and 4. Participation in interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships with family members and self-advocates, MCH/Title V programs, communities, and research.
Coordination:
We coordinate with our local LEAH and LEND programs as well as MCH/Title V programs, community health centers, pediatric practices, and schools.
Evaluation:
We use process and outcome measures to assess Project Goals and Objectives, MCH Leadership Competencies and Performance Measures, and ACGME milestones. We evaluate the program, fellows, trainees, and faculty at multiple points and multiple indicators, using measures designed to capture change in important constructs.