Centers of Excellence in MCH Education with MCH Postdoctoral Fellowship
Grant Status: Completed
Training Category: Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education Science and Practice
Project Director(s):
Donna Strobino
Project Director
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (BSPH)
615 N. Wolfe St
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: 410-502-5451
Email: dstrobi1@jhu.edu
Problem:
Improving MCH requires professionals and academics with MCH knowledge and analytic and critical thinking skills to make informed decisions for MCH programs and policies.
Goals and Objectives:
The goal of the COE is to promote the health of women, infants, children, adolescents, and children and youth with special health care needs. This goal will be accomplished through 8 objectives that address: multidisciplinary training for doctoral students interested in MCH academic, research, and professional practice careers and for masters students who plan careers in MCH practice, policy or research; promotion of MCH knowledge and advocacy to all BSPH students; applied experiences outside the classroom to engage trainees in analytic and critical thinking; continuing education (CE) of the MCH workforce ; technical assistance (TA) to the MCH community using multiple approaches; faculty research involving collaboration with students; and teaching, research, and services activities that include an understanding of cultural diversity, disparities in health and access to health care, and the notion of cultural competence.
Methodology:
The COE is supported by an interdisciplinary faculty from multiple health and related disciplines and an Advisory Committee that will provide guidance to the COE for assessing progress in meeting objectives. A broad MCH curriculum is available for public health students at the masters and doctoral levels which addresses ATMCH leadership competencies. It is embedded in a life course perspective on health and the history and implementation of Title V programs and their impact on the health and welfare of MCH populations. The MCH science base, critical thinking, analytical skills and diversity also are core priorities. The COE offers long term training in Population, Family and Reproductive Health (PFRH) degree programs: PhD, MSPH, and MHS, the school wide MPH program and the hybrid PFRH school-wide DrPH, as well as an MCH certificate for students in academic programs throughout JHU. PhD, DrPH and MSPH students in PFRH are eligible for COE tuition funding. The COE also offers support to MSPH students who undertake internships in Title V agencies, for teaching assistants in MCH courses and for pilot projects in MCH community-based programs. The COE represents a strong voice for MCH at the BSPH with a broad curriculum for students interested in MCH who are from departments other than PFRH. BSPH distance education allows fulltime employed MCH professionals to obtain degrees or complete CE credits. COE faculty and affiliated PFRH centers offer CE and TA for the MCH workforce and programs focusing on critical thinking and translation of the MCH science base for practice and programs. HP 2020 OBJECTIVES: The COE addresses all 33 MCH 2020 Objectives in the curriculum
Coordination:
The COE has strong relationships with MCHB, AMCHP, local and state MCH agencies in Region III, and JHU HRSA training programs, Center for Adolescent Health, Urban Health Institute, Gates Institute, & WIC Program and public and private MCH programs.
Evaluation:
Trainees are evaluated by written culminating projects; field placements; and doctoral oral exams and thesis defense. COE databases for long term trainees, culminating projects, internships, graduates, faculty publications and grants are used to evaluate the COE.