Boston University Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health
Grant Status: Completed
Training Category: Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education Science and Practice
Project Director(s):
Lois McCloskey
Project Director
Boston University School of Public Health Sciences
801 Massachusetts Ave
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-638-5882
Email: loism@bu.edu
Problem:
Health inequities persist in the U.S., reminding us that our vision for the 21st century--all children, youth and families thriving in healthy communities--has not been realized. The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) is designing a curriculum, IPE, diversity and practice initiatives to prepare MCH trainees and workforce to lead systems and community change.
Goals and Objectives:
Goal One. Equip MCH trainees to eliminate health inequities, leading change with community and organizational partners, across sectors. Enroll 370 MCH trainees; expand reach of MCH leadership competencies to 1000 MPH/ BUSPH students in 5 years by re-engineering core courses. Design and implement six interdisciplinary certificates that prepare MCH trainees in content and skills in MCH specialty areas, and offer them to the workforce; Implement "Practice Fellowships" to allow MCH trainees to work in and be mentored by lead MCH agencies; continue the MCH Research Fellowships. Goal Two: Increase the number of long-term trainees from URM communities to assure a culturally, racially and economically diverse workforce, enriching our educational program with diverse lived experience, and share best practices widely in MCH. Provide financial support for 20 MPH students in the Diversity Scholar Program (DSP); Employ a designated "master mentor" to further build community; and Implement a new certificate in social justice and introduce new approaches to racial bias on campus, supporting students to lead change. Goal Three: Equip trainees to work effectively as members of inter-professional teams. Graduate 5 MCH trainees from an IPE Leaders program, document and disseminate; Launch a multi-school BU case series and career conference with trainee participation; Offer short course in 'Communicating Science' (Alan Alda Center). Goal Four: Generate, translate and disseminate new knowledge to enhance MCH training and shape policy to address health inequities, service delivery and outcomes. Train 10 tri-semester research fellows yearly and support presentation/publication; Write 16 externally funded grants and secure 8 to advance MCH science. Goal Five: Expand network of organizational and community partnerships as foundation for continuing education (eLearning modules) and technical assistance for workforce. Healthy People 2020: This project addresses obj. PHI-1, PHI-2 and PHI-3, and social determinants of health objectives.
Evaluation:
Our evaluation includes: 1) tracking of metrics related to student and program performance using a web-based dashboard; 2) assessment of impact through student student and alumnae surveys; and 3) continuous quality improvement.