Developing a Public Health Maternal and Child Health Training Program: Lessons Learned from Five Schools of Public...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
• Workforce Development

Background:

• Public health workforce assessments indicate future vacancies in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) positions.
• A well-trained MCH workforce is essential to address potential critical gaps in public health services.
• Existing MCH training programs require enhancement to meet growing demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accomplishments and lessons learned from the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Public Health Catalyst Program.
• To assess the impact of the MCH Catalyst Program on developing MCH training programs in accredited schools of public health.
• To identify best practices and challenges in establishing new MCH concentrations within public health curricula.

Main Methods:

• The study examines outcomes from the first five grantees of the MCH Public Health Catalyst Program, initiated in 2015.
• Data collection likely involved program reports, curriculum reviews, and potentially stakeholder interviews from participating universities.
• Qualitative analysis of program implementation, successes, and challenges faced by the grantee institutions.

Main Results:

• The MCH Catalyst Program successfully supported the creation of new MCH training programs in five universities.
• Grantees reported progress in developing MCH curricula and training a new generation of public health professionals.
• Key lessons learned include the importance of faculty support, curriculum innovation, and strategic partnerships.

Conclusions:

• The MCH Public Health Catalyst Program has been instrumental in expanding MCH training capacity.
• Investing in MCH training programs is crucial for building a robust public health workforce.
• Continued support and evaluation are needed to sustain and scale these MCH training initiatives.