Abstract
Problem:
Lack of trained providers, pervasive health disparities, geographically underserved areas, and fragmentation of services contribute to the missed opportunities to meet the healthcare needs of adolescents and young adults (AYA). By growing the AYA healthcare workforce, using innovative solutions to address health disparities, increasing access to evidence-based services including behavioral health, engaging in strategic partnerships to provide increased support in public health and community systems, and providing local, regional and national training, we can achieve better AYA health outcomes.
Goals and objectives:
The overall goals of the UW LEAH program are to shape the future of adolescent health in the United States through:
- developing a representative MCH workforce equipped to lead work to advance health, health equity and well-being for AYA,
- providing interdisciplinary leadership education/training grounded in health equity to develop future AYA leaders,
- developing and disseminating evidence-based products and practices to enhance the lives of diverse AYA,
- improving access to developmentally appropriate behavioral, emotional, developmental, and psychosocial health services for diverse AYAs and
- developing, expanding and disseminating equitable population-based strategies and effective practices through telehealth, tele-education, technical assistance and continuing education.
Methodology:
UW LEAH will train future leaders through interdisciplinary clinical training in hospital, institutional, community, and rural outreach settings; leadership skills training, including participation in technical assistance and continuing education with mentorship from faculty, Title V and MCH partners, and didactic training. A health equity and inclusion lens is intentionally embedded in all program components. As part of our outreach to the MCH community, we will collaborate with key AYA stakeholders in the region, including youth and families. Innovations of our program include the addition of Yakima extension activities to provide increased training in this rural/underserved region of WA State, expansion of telehealth, tele-education and econsultation, Project ECHOs to enhance regional training in AYA health, and dissemination of integrated behavioral healthcare models.
COORDINATION:
UW LEAH entails collaboration between the 5 Schools at UW to support interdisciplinary training; hospital-based, institutional, community and rural outreach clinics as training sites to serve diverse AYA; Title V agencies in the region to deliver continuing education and technical assistance; UW MCHB leadership training programs for joint leadership training, and national organizations and MCHB programs for shared initiatives.
Evaluation:
Components includes formative evaluation of LTT and Certificate MTT leadership competencies, ongoing quality improvement, and summative evaluations including long-term output and outcomes. Alumni MCH leadership is assessed at 2, 5, and 10 years. Improve adolescent health and well-being by exceptionally preparing >45 LTTs, >350 MTTs, and >1250 STTs; contributing to pipeline development of future workforce; performing >150 CE trainings and >100 TA projects, including supporting adolescent Title V objectives; developing and disseminating > 125 academic products.