Problem:

CA is the largest most diverse state in the US; all PH nutrition issues are magnified here and the West due to increased numbers of vulnerable groups, many from ethnic minorities. The resulting need for a regional nutrition resource is addressed by UCLA and its Partners (UW, OHSU, UNM, CSU).

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: To prepare nutrition graduates, emphasizing doctoral-level training, for leadership roles in nutrition education, service, research, administration and advocacy for the MCH population. Objective 1: To support at least 4 MCH nutrition trainees/ year, who are or will be, registered dietitians, for up to 2 years of graduate training (MS; MPH; DrPH; PhD) at UCLA and/or UW Schools of Public Health, or CSU, OHSU or UNM, with a view toward their assumption of positions of leadership in MCH nutrition. Objective 2: To recruit at least 30% of the supported trainees from underrepresented groups in order that nutrition professionals reflect the rich diversity of the population of the West. Goal 2: To continue the UCLA Partners as a western regional resource for Title V and related programs, and to provide, using various methods, consultation, TA and CE to meet the needs of the MCH community. Objective 1: To promote nutrition leadership among state and regional Title V and other public health nutritionists by supporting an annual meeting of the 13-state Western MCH Nutrition Leadership Network, to address identified training and technical assistance needs in the western United States. Objective 2: To continue to share resources and leverage the strengths of each of the MCHB- supported Training Programs in Regions VIII, IX and X, especially those located at the Partner universities, by collaborating in at least two graduate education, continuing education or research activities per year. Activities/Methodology undertaken to meet project goals : Broaden the unique and successful university Partnership (UCLA, UW, OHSU, CSU) to leverage MCH nutrition training funds to impact other Western states by including UNM. Recruit a graduate student at each institution for up to 2 years of support (minimum of 15 total), preference given to those intending to complete a doctoral degree. Target recruitment to PH agencies and programs that employ potential applicants, particularly those who represent cultural diversity, eg. IHS. Include training in leadership and cultural competence. Enrich the nutrition curriculum of each program by building on unique strengths to develop courses, distance learning modules and collaborative research activities. Focus CE activities on the integration of MCH nutrition services, using PH nutrition skills (including measuring outcomes and cost-effectiveness, and computer literacy) into health programs in a changing health care environment. Identify needs and develop training modalities to address the current and emerging PH challenges such as childhood obesity and the developmental origins of disease as well as assuring preventive services. Provide an annual forum for current nutrition leaders in the 13 Western states to increase their knowledge and skills providing and/or assuring services in PH settings by facilitating interdisciplinary, interagency and public-private networking and collaboration. Address issues, in partnership with state and local agencies, using a variety of modalities.

Coordination:

Each Partner has relationships with state and local Title V and other agencies (CA, OR, WA, NM, CO) through student field placements, consultation, TA, CE, etc. The Western MCH Nutrition Leadership Network provides coordination with the other 8 western states (HI, NV, AZ, UT, ID, AK, MY, WY). Coordination with other MCH Nutrition grantees occurs via conference calls and annual meetings. Bimonthly conference calls including all 5 institutions allow planning and coordination purposes.

Evaluation:

Numbers of graduates in positions of leadership in MCH nutrition is a major outcome. Other process and minor outcome measures are tracked, including the spin-off effect on enrollment of RDs for PH training and the percent who work in community-based settings, the numbers of students in other disciplines taking nutrition courses, the numbers of PH courses with nutrition content, evaluation of CE activities, and the impact of the program on national health and training performance measures.

Experience to Date:

In the last 16 years the program recruited and supported 41 long-term trainee RDs, including UW (4), OHSU (3), and CSU (3); many are currently in leadership positions. Five trainees (12%) were Asian; 3 (7%) were African-American; 1 (2%) was Middle Eastern; 2 (5%) were male; 31 (76%) were Caucasian. Twelve (29%) earned (or are earning) doctoral degrees (PhD or DrPH); an additional 23 nutrition-related doctoral dissertations were awarded. Eight new courses have been developed in the area of Public Health Nutrition at UCLA, 3 since 2007: Nutrition During the Life (online course); Social Determinants of Nutrition and Health; Assessment of Family Nutrition. Since 2000, with the establishment of the Western MCH Nutrition Leadership Network, 55 leaders from 13 states have participated in annual meetings. This year, the meeting will be held in Santa Fe, NM, in conjunction with ASTPHND, and again include outreach to American Indian groups and the IHS. Other significant continuing education activities (seminars, workshops, conferences, teleconferences) reached 1,071 interdisciplinary participants. In addition, Public Health Nutrition Colloquia have been held each academic year at UCLA. In the past 6 years, with the addition of Partner universities (UW, CSU, OHSU, UNM), the number of supported trainees has doubled. The geographic distribution of the Partners has reinforced the need for the development of the Western MCH Nutrition Leadership Network.