Funded Projects

Problem:

Disparities in adolescent and young adult (AYA) health along with gaps in evidence supporting best practices and investments for improving AYA health compel the need for interdisciplinary training to develop a prepared and skilled workforce of AYA health specialists, educators and scholars. GOALS & OBJECTIVES. UMN LEAH aims to improve AYA health by equipping MCH leaders in academic and public health sectors with skills for identifying and responding to the emerging health needs of young people, at both individual and population levels. Four overall goals guide our work 1) Prepare an interdisciplinary cadre of professionals from disciplines of medicine, nursing, nutrition, psychology, and social work for specialist/educator/scholar roles in AYA health; 2) Expand UMN capacity to educate interdisciplinary MCH providers in AYA health; 3) Improve existing workforce capacity through technical assistance and continuing education related to HP 2020 AYA health indicators; 4) Create, translate, and disseminate knowledge leading to the adoption of evidence-based innovations in AYA clinical and public health services. Educational objectives, framed by the 12 MCH leadership competencies, cluster into four entrustable professional activities 1) Provide quality individual/population-focused care; 2) Influence systems on behalf of AYA; 3) Create, translate & disseminate new knowledge; 4) Teach the current & future workforce for effective practice with AYA & families. METHODOLOGY. UMN LEAH develops leadership capacity through dynamic teaching-learning modalities including courses; seminars; institutes/conferences; web-based trainings; clinical/community practica; as well as mentored research projects and technical assistance to systems that deliver AYA health services. Trainees learn core concepts of AYA health, lifecourse perspective, social determinants of health, and health systems; and develop crosscutting skills in research, teaching, communication with scientific and practice audiences, community-engagement, and advocacy. All trainees participate in a common curriculum to achieve core competencies for leadership in AYA health. UMN LEAH infrastructure leverages resources needed for teaching large numbers of long-, medium-, and short-term trainees. HP 2020 OBJECTIVES. Core AYA indicators include AH-1 Increase teen well check; AH-3 Increase teen-adult connection; AH-5 Increase AYA educational achievement; AH-9 Increase schools prohibiting GLBTQ harassment; AH-11 Reduce AYA perp/victim; STD-1 Reduce AYA Chlamydia; FP-8 Reduce teen pregnancy; MICH-31 Increase family-centered care for CSHCN. COLLABORATION. Training/TA Partners include UMN-based HRSA training programs; State Adolescent Health Resource Center & State Adolescent Health Coordinator network; Practicum sites with Title V funds; MN Dept of Health; Region V Adolescent Health Network. EVALUATION. Success in achieving UMN LEAH objectives will be assessed through process methods (e.g. monthly faculty review of program plans, trainee progress), outcome methods (e.g. annual review of faculty CVs, semi-annual review of trainees scholarly productivity) and impact methods (e.g. biannual surveys of former trainees regarding current activities, productivity).