Funded Projects

Problem:

The demographics of CA create an excellent setting for public health teaching, programs and research regarding social determinants of health across the Life Course. MCH students at UCB are trained to find solutions to health concerns affecting women, children, and families in CA and beyond

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: To promote and protect the health status of families, including women, infants, children, children with special health care needs, adolescents, and fathers. Objective 1: During the 2010-15 period, implement a competency-based curriculum that incorporates, the life course model, social determinants of health issues such that upon completion of the one or two-year MCH program each trainee will be proficient with these public health competencies Objective 2: Implement a curriculum that develops leadership skills and interdisciplinary team building practice such that upon completion of the one or two year MCH program each trainee will demonstrate proficiency in self reflection, ethics & professionalism, cultural competence, and interdisciplinary skills Objective 3: Each academic year, 100% of the MCH Core Faculty will work with 100% of the graduating cohort of MCH students in the design, development and implementation of research and publication efforts. Goal 2: To prepare health professionals to be leaders in the field of MCH with a multicultural, multidisciplinary, ethical, and cost-effective vision of MCAH. Objective 1: By May, 2015, 80 public health professionals will receive advanced education to earn a Master's degree in Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health with 95% achieving on-time graduation Objective 2: From June 2010 through May 2015, at least 90% of MCH program graduates will secure employment in MCH related settings, locally, regionally, nationally and globally. Objective 3: By May 2015, at least 80% of employed graduates (from the past five years) will be working in MCH settings (e.g., state and local health departments, Title V agencies, community-based organizations, etc.) in which they are addressing the needs of underserved MCH populations. Goal 3: To work closely with other MCH programs to mobilize large scale, synergistic efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities and the to health that affect MCH populations. Objective 1: During the next 5 years, each MCH faculty member will provide professional consultation and/or technical assistance to at least 50 state, local and regional, national and international MCH programs with a special emphasis on Title V agencies and community-based organizations serving MCH populations. Objective 2: During the next 5 years the MCH program will continue to develop and foster our relationships with our local MCHB Grantees, through annual interdisciplinary activities aimed at sharing new knowledge with MCHB faculty and trainees from each program. Objective 3: During the next 5 years the MCH program will develop a new collaborative relationship with at least 1 other MCHB funded program on the West Coast. Activities/Methodology undertaken to meet project goals: Each academic year, trainees will take courses to achieve the outlined competencies. Each trainee will complete a field practicum to apply and integrate analytic and methodological tools in a practice based MCH setting. The MCH program will provide partial financial support to at least 75% of eligible incoming MCH students each year. All alumni from the last 5 years will be surveyed annually to track their career development and leadership activities

Coordination:

The program's activities are closely integrated with local, state Title V MCH agencies. Representatives of these agencies lecture in MCH courses, serve as preceptors for student field work and research projects, participate on the program Advisory Board, and collaborate on research projects. MCH agencies also employ many program graduates and benefit from the consultative services and advising of program faculty.

Evaluation:

Evaluation methods are designed to assess students' leadership development, mastery of MCH Program competencies, the extent and quality of faculty, student, and graduates' MCH service and research contributions; and community partners' satisfaction with student field placements. Data sources include, exit surveys, an annual alumni survey, course evaluations, field placement evaluations, faculty CV's and student transcripts.

Experience to Date:

UC Berkeley MCH Program faculty and students have produced a total of 67 products and publications in 2010-11. They provided 39 continuing education presentations at professional meetings, and technical assistance to 34 agencies and organizations on MCH issues. The faculty also consulted or collaborated with 10 Title V agencies in the Bay Area. The MCH Program also received a supplement to develop an MCH nutrition leadership program in collaboration with the Public Health Nutrition program. The program funded 5 student leaders to conduct research projects with nutrition faculty. The MCH Program also produced a half day nutrition symposium. The MCH Program also produced a one day continuing education event about the Life Course Perspective. This event was attended by over 75 MCH professionals throughout the state. The MCH Program also began developing an MCH leadership toolbox for MCH students.