MCH Student eNewsletter

Did you participate in the MCH Peers program during the Fall 2020 semester? We would love to hear your thoughts and get your feedback on the program thus far. Please fill out this survey by Friday, January 15, 2021. Thank you!

MCH Blog editor Alexis Chavez was featured in the SPH Communications campaign, “Students of SPH.” Alexis is a first year MCH student with a passion for child health and hopes to attend medical school.

-Learn more about Alexis here

This month’s blog post features University of Illinois at Chicago MCH student Ariana J. Roman, who received a scholarship to pursue newfound research endeavors related to intimate partner violence (IPV), statewide opioid policies, and SANE nurse programs.

-Read more here

MCH student Rachel Uwimbabazi had the opportunity to work with Face2Face through a Community Health Initiative (CHI) position. Face2Face serves youth (ages 11-24 ) of color and of low socioeconomic status who have systematically experienced health disparities. Rachel’s main project was to develop pregnancy and parenting education sessions for youth receiving case management in their OB program.

-Read the Spotlight

• Rachel Uwimbabazi accepted an internship with Blue Cross Blue Shield and will work on the new High Risk Pregnancy Food Rx program

• Alyse Haven accepted a position as a COVID-19 vaccine distribution student worker paraprofessional at MDH

• The PubH 6630 fall 2020 class updated various sections for the next edition of the MN Women’s Health Report Card (coming soon!). They presented their findings and suggestions to each other, class guests from MDH, and the Center. Thanks to each of them for their hard work, and to RA Laura Villareal and Professor Bonilla for arranging!

Do you have something to celebrate? Do you want to help us congratulate another MCH student? Are you doing COVID-related work or research? Tell us about it so we can share!

Friday, January 15, 2021 | 7:45 AM - 9:30 AM CST

Online

Making sure that there is a fair distribution of the environmental resources needed for good health takes planning. Panelists will consider environmental health topics related to waste treatment and landfill properties, road and bicycle routes, and green space. Do people have equitable distribution of these resources? Co-sponsored by the Center.

-Register here

The US Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. The guidelines provide science-based recommendations designed to foster healthy dietary patterns for Americans of all ages – from birth through older adults. Importantly, this edition expands the guidance, for the first time including recommended healthy dietary patterns for infants and toddlers. MCH Center faculty and Associate Professor Dr. Jamie Stang played a pivotal role in developing these guidelines.

Associate Professor Dr. Rachel Hardeman was named one of Twin Cities Business' (TCB) Top 100 People To Know by 2021. In the new year, she plans to establish a new center for anti-racist research in health care, with the goal of developing evidence-based methods for measuring the impact of racism on health outcomes.

-Read more

Another congratulations is in order for Dr. Hardeman, who was named to the Board of Directors for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN Foundation. “It is critical that the Foundation’s board of directors be representative of the communities we serve throughout MN. This representation takes many forms including racial and ethnic identities, diverse lived experiences, physical geography, and connection to communities experiencing health inequities.” - Dr. Mark Steffen, Chair.

Communication is the verbal, nonverbal, and written sharing of information. Health communication is vital for influencing behavior that can lead to improved health. MCH students and professionals should be able to demonstrate working knowledge of all communication modalities and ways to overcome challenges, such as literacy levels, disability, cultural meanings, language differences, professional terms, and acronyms.

-Learn more about communication

Networking is a great way to learn about job opportunities, increase your interviewing confidence, obtain job search advice, gather pertinent industry information, and so much more. Why not kick off the new year with new (or old) connections through networking? Here are 5 New Year’s Resolutions to Strengthen Your Network:

1. Connect with your current network

2. Make a list of new people

3. Use social media to the fullest

4. Attend a networking event

5. Always follow up

To learn more about this topic follow these links:

• 5 New Year’s Resolutions to Strengthen Your Network

• Networking and Social Media: Careers in Public Health

• School of Public Health Networking Resources

Questions about this Career Tip? Contact Natalie in the SPH Careers Office at malla094@umn.edu.

The Interdisciplinary Fellowship Program, which has been in existence for 40 years, brings together a cadre of fellows who lend their disciplinary perspective to the intensive shared fellowship experience. The fellowship program provides a paid stipend (based on NIH levels) while improving fellows’ skills in research, leadership, advocacy, translation of research, and teaching. Fellowship faculty are reflective of our interdisciplinary approach; faculty research profiles can be found here. The application deadline is Monday, February 1, 2021.

In summer 2021, the National Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Workforce Development Center will support at least 12 teams of MCH students to participate in internships in state and territorial Title V programs. Students will receive opportunities to work on MCH-related projects, network with MCH leaders and students, and receive training in systems, leadership, and team-building. Applications are being accepted beginning today, January 6, 2021.

-Learn more

The CHILD Team at the Zigler Center (Yale Child Study Center) seeks individuals dedicated to issues of equity and social justice. The CHILD is a comprehensive toolkit designed to support and strengthen the mental health climate in early childhood care settings.The two positions being hired are Program Administrator and Research Associate 2. When applying for either the Program Administrator or Research Associate positions, please also send your CV and cover letter to itchild@yale.edu.

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration is hiring interns for the Summer 2021 Internship program. The program accepts applications from highly motivated graduate students in good standing at schools of public health or other health-related training programs in the US. Applications for the Summer 2021 Internship are due on January 25, 2021.

-Learn more

The Association of MCH Programs (AMCHP) is looking to bring on a talented part-time intern to support their policy team for Winter/Spring 2021. The intern will assume responsibility for a wide range of projects and functions, requiring professionalism and task orientation. AMCHP offers a 100% virtual work/telework environment while our nation responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

-See job posting

Sunday, January 10, 2021 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CST

Online

Join the SPH Student Senate J-Term Crafting Series to connect with students and relax over winter break through decorating candles! Check out the list of essentials you may need and please reach out to the Senate if you need financial assistance to participate in the crafting series at sphss@umn.edu.

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST

Online

Join the EpiCH division for a discussion on justice for Henrietta Lacks, her family, and what needs to be done to ensure racial and social justice in health research.

-Register here

The UMN RHRC’s first newsletter summarizes accomplishments and highlights from 2020, and profiles two new staff members.

-Check it out here

All UMN instructors, students, and staff have access to more than 3,800 courses and 400 Coursera specializations at no cost. Learners can register at no charge through February 28, 2021 and will have until April 30, 2021 to complete their Coursera courses.

The data show significant health disparities affecting Native American women and girls, including higher rates of cancer, suicide attempts, and mortality from heart disease and stroke. UMN public health PhD student Julia Interrante explores how systemic racism manifests in sobering disparities in prenatal care and maternal health outcomes for Native communities in MN.

More than 13,000 women in the US are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year, but the disease is preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening. HPV vaccines can help prevent infection from both high risk HPV types that can lead to cervical cancer and low risk types that cause genital warts. The CDC recommends all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12 as the vaccine produces a stronger immune response when taken during the preteen years.

-Learn more

The theme for this year’s birth defects prevention month is “Best For You. Best For Baby.” Not all birth defects can be prevented. But individuals can increase their chances of having a healthy baby by doing what they can to be their healthiest self both before and during pregnancy.

-Learn more

The aims of the Center include providing continuing professional education in maternal and child health (MCH) and support for students in online and in-person MCH graduate programs at the University of Minnesota. Center and MCH Program faculty are involved in research and training in infant and child health, adolescent health, family health, health disparities, reproductive health, and women's health.

The Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number T76MC00005 for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health in the amount of $1,725,000. This information or content and conclusions of our outreach products are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

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