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 skilled workforce of leaders in AYA health.

Goals and Objectives:

UMN LEAH aims to improve the quality of care and equitable access to appropriate health and mental health services among AYA by preparing leaders in academic and public health sectors with skills to identify and respond to national priorities and emerging health issues of young people, at both individual and population levels. Four overall goals guide our work, all focused on AYA health: 1) Prepare interdisciplinary cohorts of professionals from disciplines of medicine, nursing, nutrition, psychology, and social work for leadership roles; 2) Expand UMN capacity to educate clinicians, educators and scholars in AYA health; 3) Improve existing workforce capacity through technical assistance and continuing education related to HP2030 health indicators; 4) Create, translate and disseminate knowledge leading to adoption of evidence-based innovations in health and public health services. Framed by the 12 MCH Leadership Competencies, educational objectives cluster into four entrustable professional activities: 1) Provide quality individual and population-focused care; 2) Influence systems and policies on behalf of AYA; 3) Create, translate and disseminate new knowledge; 4) Teach current and future workforce effective practices with AYA and families.

Methodology:

UMN LEAH develops leadership capacity through dynamic teaching-learning modalities including seminars, courses, clinical/community practica, mentored research and technical assistance to systems that deliver AYA health services. Trainees participate in a common curriculum to achieve core competencies. Through core seminars, trainees examine theoretical foundations for AYA health (e.g. life course development, social determinants of health, positive youth development); AYA physical and mental health and well-being; influencing change in practice, programs and systems; research, translation and dissemination; and leadership development. Through structured learning activities, trainees develop skills in research, teaching, communication with scientific, practice and consumer audiences, community engagement, and advocacy. UMN LEAH infrastructure leverages resources for teaching large numbers of long-, medium-, and short-term trainees. COORDINATION Training/TA partners include: UMN-based MCHB training programs; State Adolescent Health Resource Center & National Network of State Adolescent Health Coordinators; practicum sites serving historically underrepresented AYA groups; MN Dept of Health. HP 2030 OBJECTIVES: Core AYA indicators include: AH-1 Increase teen preventive visits; AH-2 Increase private time during teen preventive visits; AH-3 Increase teen-adult connection; AH-10 Reduce AYA violent crime; MHMD-08 Increase primary care screening for depression; NWS-04 Reduce obesity in children and adolescents; LGBT-05 Reduce bullying of LGB high school students; STD-1 Increase screening for chlamydia among AYA; FP-3 Reduce teen pregnancy; MICH-20 Increase youth with special healthcare needs who have a system of care.

Evaluation:

Success in achieving UMN LEAH objectives will be assessed through process methods (e.g. monthly faculty review of trainee program plans, progress), outcome methods (e.g. annual review of faculty CVs, semiannual review of trainee scholarly productivity) and impact methods (e.g. systematic surveys of former trainees regarding current activities, productivity).