Funded Projects

Problem:

Adolescence and young adulthood are "critical periods" in the Life Course, yet there are significant Adolescent/Young Adult Health (AYAH) inequities, barriers to care, and treatment gaps. A well-trained, diverse, interdisciplinary AYAH workforce is needed to partner with Title V and others to achieve Healthy People 2030 (HP 2030) Objectives.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: Provide interdisciplinary, AYAH leadership training for 5 disciplines (medicine, nursing, nutrition, psychology, social work).

• Obj 1.1: Annually train ≥ 10 diverse, long-term trainees (LTT) for leadership roles.
• Obj 1.2: Fellows will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and strategies to promote equitable, trauma-informed, culturally responsive AYAH care for diverse populations through clinical care, quality improvement (QI), teaching, research, and use of technology.

Goal 2: Increase the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of the Boston LEAH Program.

• Obj 2.1: Lead/engage in ≥ 4 DEI activities annually.
• Obj 2.2: ≥ 10 faculty/fellow publications with a DEI focus, annually.

Goal 3: Increase public health and AYAH workforce capacity through training.

• Obj 3.1: Update LTT and medium term trainee (MTT) curricula annually; author ≥ 30 products to advance AYAH.
• Obj 3.2: Annually train ≥ 70 MTT and ≥ 200 short term trainees to expand workforce.
• Obj 3.3: Track LTT graduate success in leadership and interdisciplinary care.

Goal 4: Increase access to integrated physical/behavioral AYAH care for diverse populations, and measure outcomes.

• Obj 4.1: Provide clinical care to >5000 diverse youth annually; seek parent/youth input on care models.
• Obj 4.2: Meet QI metrics and performance measures (PM), demonstrating continuous programmatic improvement.

Goal 5: Collaborate with, provide technical assistance (TA) to, and educate MCH investments, community partners, parents/youth, and others to address HP 2030 Objectives.

• Obj 5.1: ≥ 10 annual collaborations with stakeholders, of which ≥ 2 will be with MCH training programs, and ≥ 2 with Region 1 Title V programs including a Parent/Youth Advisor regional summit.
• Obj 5.2: ≥ 100 AYAH presentations and ≥ 1 continuing education (CE) course annually; maintain relevant, accessible online AYAH educational materials.
• Obj 5.3: ≥ 45 AYAH TA consultations annually, addressing disparities and behavioral health.

Methodology:

Fellows engage in an innovative, learner-centered, interdisciplinary Leadership Curriculum including Individual Learning Plans for Leadership, Developmental Networks, 5 Case Modules, Advocacy, Mental Health Seminars, Writing and Teaching Workshops, Research Methods, a Motivational Interviewing Seminar, and a Health Equity Capstone Project. Fellows develop clinical, teaching, research and QI skills. To improve AYAH, Boston LEAH provides TA and CE, disseminates publications and products, manages websites, offers distance learning, and collaborates with MCH agencies, professional organizations, training programs, community based organizations and providers, as well as parents and youth.

Coordination:

Boston LEAH provides model collaboration with organizations serving MCH populations and with MCH agencies and training programs.

Evaluation:

Evaluation is based upon continuous QI principles informed by feedback from trainees, faculty, parents, youth, CE and TA recipients, as well as LTT graduates at 2, 5, and 10 years. Success is measured by meeting set Goals and Objectives, QI metrics, and PM.