Funded Projects

Problem:

The majority of the State of Alabama has been classified as a Medically Underserved Area and has a Health Professinal Shortage Area designation. Therefore, consistent with the purpose of the Maternal and Child Health Pipeline Training Program (MCHPTP), Alabama State University (ASU) proposes to implement a project that will promote the development of a culturally diverse and representative health care workforce by recruiting minority applicants and training students from disadvantaged backgrounds into maternal and child health professions.

Goals and Objectives:

Goa l 1: Enroll a cadre of undergraduates in a training program that engages them in courses and activities designed to develop skills, commitment and passion for working with women and children. Objective 1: Admit 20 undergraduate students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds to the ASU Pipeline Training Program each year. Objective 2: One hundred percent of the active Pipeline graduates will be fully prepared to apply annually for admission to graduate /professional programs that train individuals to work with maternal and child health clientele. Objective 3: ASU Pipe line Training Program trainees will complete the required Summer Academy activities with a participation rate of at least 85% annually. Goa l 2: Engage the undergraduate students in intense year-long series of courses ultimately leading to an undergraduate certificate in MC H. Objective 1: Develop an undergraduate certificate program in MCH, approved by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). Objective 2: Develop and implement the Pipeline Training Leadership Institute (PTLI) that offers college credit, approved by the University's Curriculum and Academic Affairs Office. Objective 3: To strengthen the academic profile of the trainee s through partnerships for the purpose of developing a pipeline for professional program admissions that provides supplement l summer enrichment programs or clinical internship opportunities.

Methodology:

This project will annually enroll a cohort of twenty undergraduate students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds. The major goals of this project will be operationalized through engagement in a comprehensive series of courses over a four year period. Ultimately, trainees participating in this program will be afforded the opportunity to complete an undergraduate certificate in MCH approved by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, while pursuing their traditional degree programs. The ASU Pipeline program has been structured to expose college freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors to a series of activities designed to introduce them to career choices in the health professions which serve MCH populations. Five themes will be threaded throughout the experiences across the academic year -- life course model, leadership, cultural competency, career development, and academic skills acquisition. The program will also include, a five-week Summer Academy seminar series, a leadership institute and clinical experiences designed to facilitate development of the knowledge, skills, commitment, and passion for working with maternal and child health populations.

Coordination:

Successful collaborative relationships exist with the University of Alabama of Birmingham (UAB) and the Alabama MCH Leadership Network. The Leadership Network will teach a public health course titled Emerging Issues in MCH to participating trainees. The UAB MCH program will collaborate with ASU to host the onsite course, as well as opportunities for clinical and leadership experiences in association with mock Grand Rounds during summer terms. ASU serves as a rich referral source of African American students who are committed to MCH careers and are well on their way to understanding health disparities and cultural competence. Additional opportunities will be available through formal partnerships which provide mentorship with Children's Rehabilitation Services of Alabama (Title V), the Alabama Department of Public Health, Jackson Hospital Simulation Lab, the Institute for Patient Safety and Medical Simulation, The Family Guidance Center, and the Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center.

Evaluation:

A variety of evaluation methods have been selected for this program, including a student tracking database, use of standardized career development instruments, analysis of MCH worksheets, data from focus group sessions and data from individual course/seminar evaluations forms. An on-line computer-based survey will evaluate specific knowledge acquisition with some comparing pre and post scores. It is anticipated that by the five year follow up, this project will have realized a significant success in the direct credentialing of MCH professionals.