MCH Student eNewsletter

A recent review reveals that 43 states have laws related to pregnant or postpartum incarcerated individuals, but only seven address screening or treatment for substance use disorder (SUD): Texas, California, Minnesota, Maryland, New Jersey, Missouri, and Massachusetts. Authors of this policy brief recommend sentencing alternatives, SUD screening and treatment in correctional facilities, humane and trauma-informed care, and evidence-based treatment. Policy change that recognizes SUD as a serious medical need will ensure prisons and jails provide appropriate care for incarcerated pregnant and postpartum individuals struggling with SUD.

#UMNMCH student Dr. Laurel Cederberg (MPH 2024) wrote this reflection detailing her involvement with the Minnesota Vision Health Task Force. The Task Force is dedicated to addressing vision health equity, particularly through their "Little Eyes, Big Eyes" project for Native American children and families in Minnesota. Drawing from her hands-on experience, this endeavor has subsequently inspired her to embark on her own research project, focusing on pediatric vision screening as well as the vision health of children and teens who self-identify as Native American within the HealthPartners care system in Minnesota. Laurel said that her time with the Task Force allowed her “experience how committed government, policy, health, education, and community members came together to work with Native American stakeholders to improve vision in kids.” Read more about Laurel’s deployment here.

Karah Waters, from the HRSA-funded Center of Excellence in MCH at the University of South Florida, is the December author for the Health Equity Edition of MCH Leads, the student-led national MCH trainee blog. In her blog post, Karah applies MCH Competencies 2 (Self-Reflection) and 12 (Policy) to her passion, knowledge, and experiences in lactation and family-centered care and shares her policy brief titled “Need Milk? Addressing the Cries of Infants Lacking Their Mother’s Milk.” Karah wrote, “This experience opened my eyes to what lactation work looks like in a community setting and gave me a better understanding of how the protective factors framework applies to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding promotes secure attachments and bonding, thus mitigating child maltreatment.” Continue reading more about Karah’s health equity efforts here!

Nora Lopez, an MCH Leadership Education and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways (LEAP) Training Program student at the University of California, Berkeley, is the January author in the Health Equity Edition of MCH Leads. In her blog entry, Nora reflects on her experiences with Birth By Us and California Preterm Birth Initiative, applying MCH Competencies 5 (Communication) and 7 (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility). “The ongoing commitment to health equity is a fundamental necessity for the well-being of all individuals. Initiatives can positively impact communities when guided by principles of communication, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.” Learn more about Nora’s contributions here!

We are looking for a student facilitator for our next MCH Leadership Skills Institute Workshop on January 26, 2024, at 9 AM CT. We are excited to welcome Rose Simon, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Wellness Navigator, as she presents “Work-Life Balance: Setting Boundaries and Letting Go.” The student facilitator's role is to introduce the presenters, help the presenters engage students (make sure discussion is flowing, facilitate activities or breakouts, etc.), moderate questions and discussions, and close the training. We’ll help prepare you by setting up a 15-minute technology check a week prior to the event to review the presentation materials and needs, supplying you with notes and an internal agenda, and answering any questions you may have. The facilitator will need to log on 15 minutes early on the morning of the event. If you are interested, please email Sarah V. at mch@umn.edu by January 12, 2024.

The Center is proud to co-sponsor the following events:

January 25, 2024 | 4:30 PM CT (Registration and Dinner), 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM CT (Event) | Coffman Theater

Join the MCH Student Interest Group, the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health and Dr. Jason Sole (event facilitator) for a peer-developed collaborative event. There will be a screening of a collective of five short documentaries produced by Beyond Walls, which defines and amplifies the historical and current prison industrial complex (PIC) in the US and addresses the impacts of mass incarceration on public health. A discussion and panel will follow the screening and presentation.

Friday, January 26, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM CT | Virtual

Rose Simon, LGSW, will lead the year’s third Leadership Skills Institute Workshop, focusing on student and professional well-being. Rose is the Wellness Navigator and Advisor Support Professional in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), where she helps support undergraduate and graduate students in navigating resources for mental health and basic needs such as financial, food, housing, transportation, and more. Rose serves as a liaison between CFANS and various on- and off-campus units to connect students to the specific resources they need.

All Workshops are virtual and required for Center-funded students (deployed students, RAs, etc). Please reach out to mch@umn.edu if you need the Zoom link or are a Center-funded student who is unable to make the workshop.

Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CT

Template analysis is a structured approach in which researchers identify major domains covered in a data collection and provide summaries of participant responses for each domain, then place each summary in a matrix to identify recurring themes under each domain. In this hands-on, follow-up workshop to Template Analysis as a Method for Rapid Qualitative Inquiry in Public Health Research (Part 1), participants will learn how to describe the steps of template analysis, conduct a template analysis, make actionable recommendations, and propose how to use template analysis in one’s own research program.

The Maternal and Child Interest Group (MCHIG) will be hosting a three-part virtual book club focused on Reproductive Justice. Mark your calendars for the following dates, and keep an eye out for further information!

• Friday, February 16, 2024 | 9:00 AM -10:00 AM CT

• Friday, March 15, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM CT

• Friday, April 19, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM CT

Friday, April 5, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM CT | Virtual and In-Person

The Health Equity Work Group at the UMN School of Public Health is pleased to host the annual Health Disparities Round Table. More information to come. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested.

Maternal and Infant Health SUD/OUD Perinatal Online Conference

January 17-18, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CT | Virtual

Public Health Matters Policy Forum Series - What’s Tried and True; What’s New? Children and Adolescents

January 19, 2024 | 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM CT | New Brighton Community Center

Building Cultural Competency for Understanding and Treating Mental Health for the Hmong in America

February 2, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM CT | $60 | Virtual

Strategies to Retain Volunteers in Youth-Serving Organizations

February 7, 2024 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT | Virtual

Growing the Strengths of Youth: A Trauma-Sensitive Strength-Based Approach to Youth Development

February 9, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT | $30 | Virtual

Each month, we highlight MCH Leadership competencies for students to learn more about.

MCH Leadership Competency #2: Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is the process of assessing the impact of personal values, beliefs, communication styles, cultural influences, and experiences on one’s personal and professional leadership style.

MCH Leadership Competency #3: Ethics

Ethical behavior in professional roles includes conduct congruent with generally accepted principles and values. This definition includes general leadership ethics, such as honesty, responsibility, and cultural competency, as well as ethics specific to the MCH population.

Want to advance your MCH self-reflection and ethics skills? Visit MCH Navigator.

• Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) Fellowship Program | Early Admission January 5, 2024

• Minnesota Social Service Association Student Scholarships | Due January 15, 2024

• Women’s Center Global Seminar: Feminist Leadership in Argentina | Priority deadline February 1, 2024

• Call for Proposals:

• 2024 Minnesota Rural Health Conference | Due January 10, 2024

• Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) 2024 Annual Conference | Due January 19, 2024

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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