Funded Projects

Problem:

The University of Minnesota Leadership Education and Training Program in Maternal and Child Nutrition provides emerging public health nutrition leaders with skills to identify and respond to current and emerging health needs of children, youth, and families, at both individual and population levels.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: To train public health nutrition graduate students to be strong and effective leaders who are committed to improving the nutritional health and well-being of the MCH population. Objective 1: Recruit and train graduate nutrition students who demonstrate leadership potential. Each year, 3 MCH nutrition trainees (long-term) will enter the program; after 5 years, 15 long-term trainees will have completed the program. Objective 2: Within 3 years of graduation, 85% of trainees will be involved in MCH leadership activities. Objective 3: For each of 5 years, train 6 public health nutrition students (medium-term trainees) in MCH nutrition and leadership development and 45 short-term trainees. Goal 2: To provide innovative and high quality state-of-the-art graduate education in public health nutrition with a focus on maternal and child nutrition and leadership development. Objective 1: Provide a high quality educational program so students acquire core public health and nutrition competencies needed to be effective MCH nutrition leaders. Each year at least 15 PHN students will be exposed to public health nutrition leadership coursework. Objective 2: Provide training in cultural competence through courses and experiential learning (e.g., field experiences, research project). Each trainee will complete at least 120 hours of supervised field experience related to MCH nutrition at an agency that promotes cultural competence. Objective 3: For each of 5 years, expose at least 20 graduate students in interdisciplinary fields (e.g., MCH, medicine, nursing, community health, psychology) to the curriculum in MCH nutrition (MCH nutrition courses, field experiences, master's research projects). Goal 3: To improve knowledge and skills in MCH nutrition for health professionals through continuing education with emphasis on topics related new and emerging MCH-related health problems. Objective 1: Offer an annual national conference on maternal and child nutrition for health professionals, with a distance education component. Objective 2: For each of 5 years, LET faculty will present at least 15 local, regional, national, or international presentations to professional organizations, community groups, organizations, and/or agencies. Objective 3: Collaborate with MCH and PHN professionals, including Title V directors, ASTPHND leadership, and our advisory board, to identify the CE needs of health professionals around MCH nutrition issues and strategies for meeting these needs through annual surveys, program evaluation forms or interviews. Goal 4: To develop and disseminate new knowledge and educational resources in MCH nutrition to others in the field and help translate this knowledge into public health and clinical practice. Objective 1: Each of 5 years, LET faculty will conduct research in MCH nutrition and disseminate findings through at least 15 publications in peer-reviewed journals or book chapters. Objective 2: Each of 5 years, LET faculty and trainees (under faculty guidance) will develop and/or disseminate curriculum materials, teaching modules and other educational resources on MCH nutrition through our Website to health professionals and educators and policy makers. Objective 3: Maintain a website to disseminate research and educational resources on MCH nutrition issues to health professionals, community providers and policy makers Goal 5: Enhance capacity in state Title V MCH entities and other programs focused on the nutrition of MCH populations through collaboration, consultation, and technical assistance offered by UMN-LET faculty. Objective 1: For each of 5 years, provide consultation to at least 5 local, regional and national MCH nutrition-related organizations, agencies and policy makers; at least 2 of these agencies will be funded by Title V. Objective 2: For each of 5 years, participate in committees, task forces, and working groups of key state, regional, and national MCH as well as professional organizations that address MCH issues. Objective 3: Collaborate annually with at least one other MCHB-funded MCH nutrition program in developing resources and providing technical assistance and capacity building to state and local nutrition programs around key MCH nutrition issues.

Methodology:

The LET Program will train at least 3 long-term, 6 medium-term and 45 short-term trainees each year. Faculty will teach graduate courses in Maternal and Child Nutrition, Child and Adolescent Nutrition, Prevention and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Obesity, and Foundations of Leadership in Public Health Nutrition. The LET Program will expose at least 20 students in interdisciplinary fields to MCH nutrition courses and research projects. Training in cultural competence will be provided through courses and experiential learning. Each long-term trainee will complete at least 120 hours of supervised field experience related to MCH nutrition at an agency that promotes cultural competence. The LET Program will offer an annual conference on maternal and child nutrition with a distance education component. Faculty will present at least 15 local, regional, national or international continuing education presentations each year. LET faculty will conduct research in MCH nutrition and disseminate findings through at least 15 publications in peer-reviewed journals or book chapters. LET faculty and trainees will develop and/or disseminate curriculum materials, teaching modules and other resources through our Website to health professionals, educators and policy makers. Faculty and trainees will provide consultation to at least 5 MCH nutrition-related organizations.

Coordination:

The MN Dept of Health, the MN Dept of Education and the Minneapolis and St Paul Depts of Health will serve in an advisory capacity and will provide training and research opportunities for students and faculty.Local non-profits (Community Design Center, school districts, etc) will provide training and leadership opportunities to our trainees. We will also collaborate with other MCHB-funded training programs (LEAH, Nursing, MCH, LEND) to provide interdisciplinary training opportunities.

Evaluation:

Process evaluation will involve monthly monitoring of program plans and their implementation. The LET Program Advisory Board will have an annual conference call to assess outcomes of the training grant. Surveys of former trainees will be used to assess the longer-term impact of the LET program and activities. Dr. Stang will be responsible for the evaluation component of all aspects of the grant. She will work closely with Dr. Story. Trainees will also assist in the evaluation.

Experience to Date:

The LET Program is collaborating with 3 other MCHB-funded nutrition training programs (Alabama, Tennessee and Baylor) to develop a leadership training institute for young, emerging public health nutrition leaders. Planning for the Emerging Leaders in Public Health Nutrition Institute (ELPHNI) was nearly completed. The first group of 12 individuals will begin the ELPHNI during the National Maternal Nutrition Intensive Course (NMNIC) on July 28, 2011. The LET Program held the 2010 NMNIC in July 2010 with an onsite attendance of more than 150 people and a distance education audience of more than 2400 people.