Funded Projects

Problem:

The purpose of this Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Training Program is to train the MCH workforce to be leaders in public health nutrition with the opportunity to specialize in the unique management of medical high-risk infants. Emerging leaders in public health nutrition must be trained to take leadership roles to ensure that the MCH population receives the best nutrition through the life course.

Goal(s) and Objectives:

The first goal is to provide skilled manpower to meet the nutritional demands of infants to ensure quality of life. Objectives: 1. Four registered dietitians (RD)/graduate students will complete 3-month neonatal nutrition fellowship yearly. 2. Twelve RDs will participate in 1-week neonatal nutrition update practicum each year. 3. 150 MCH health care providers will attend the annual neonatal nutrition conference. 4. Two emerging leaders will be supported by grant funds METHODOLGY: For the fellowship, a curriculum on neonatal nutrition principles and their clinical application will be given. Training will be presented in the various neonatal and pediatric settings of the Texas Children's Hospital, Ben Taub General Hospital, and the Texas Children's Pediatric Associates Medical Home Clinics. Dietitians will participate in team rounds, discussions, case study presentations, individual projects, and leadership development activities. The fellows will receive a monthly stipend to offset living expenses. The one-week participants will spend a week observing team rounds in the nursery and participating in discussions on neonatal nutrition and medicine. The dietitians will evaluate their current nutrition practices and then implement current, evidence based nutrition practices in their workplace. The conference program will be planned by an interdisciplinary advisory board. Continuing education credit is provided for physicians, nurses, and dietitians. The Emerging Leaders in MCH Nutrition Institute will be done over one year by one meeting, web training, interactive conference calls, coaching, and the development of policy briefs by the participants. Advertisement for all programs will be by direct program mailing, list serves, and web sites to facilitate participant enrollment from across the country.

Coordination:

BCM MCH Pipeline Training, MCH Student Training for Academic Readiness and Success (MCH STARS); UT LONESTAR LEND, Houston; MCH Nutrition Grantees, TX Health and Human Services Commission Nutritionists.

Evaluation:

All programs will be evaluated for program content by the participants. Application of the information taught will be recorded. Information will be used to plan future programs to ensure the development of MCH nutrition workforce. ANNOTATION: The purpose of this project is to train public health nutritionists to be leaders in the MCH workforce. Fellowships, practicums, a training institute and a conference will be conducted