Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Aug;26(Suppl 1):156-168.
doi: 10.1007/s10995-022-03444-z. Epub 2022 Apr 30.

Developing State Leadership in Maternal and Child Health: Process Evaluation Findings from a Work-Based Learning Model for Leadership Development

Karl E Umble  1 , Laura Powis  2 , Alexandria M Coffey  3 , Lewis Margolis  3 , Amy Mullenix  4 , Hiba Fatima  3 , Stephen Orton  5 , W Oscar Fleming  6 , Kristen Hassmiller Lich  7 , Dorothy Cilenti  3
Affiliations

Developing State Leadership in Maternal and Child Health: Process Evaluation Findings from a Work-Based Learning Model for Leadership Development

Karl E Umble et al. Matern Child Health J. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: Since 2013 the MCH Bureau has supported the National MCH Workforce Development Center to strengthen the Title V MCH workforce. This article describes the Center's Cohort Program and lessons learned about work-based learning, instruction, and coaching.

Description: The Cohort Program is a leadership development program that enrolls state-level teams for skill development and work-based learning to address a self-identified challenge in their state. Teams attend a Learning Institute that teaches concepts, skills, and practical tools in systems integration; change management and adaptive leadership; and evidence-based decision-making and implementation. Teams then work back home on their challenges, aided by coaching. The Program's goals are for teams to expand and use their skills to address their challenge, and that teams would strengthen programs, organizations, and policies, use their skills to address other challenges, and ultimately improve MCH outcomes.

Methods: This process evaluation is based on evaluation forms completed by attendees at the three-day Learning Institute; six-month follow-up interviews with team leaders; and a modified focus group with staff.

Results: Participants and staff believe the Cohort Program effectively merges a practical skill-based curriculum, work-based learning in teams, and coaching. The Learning Institute provides a foundation of skills and tools, strengthens the team's relationship with their coach, and builds the team. The work-based learning period provides structure, accountability, and a "practice space" for teams to apply the Cohort Program's skills and tools to address their challenge. In this period, teams deepen collaborations and often add partners. The coach provides accessible and tailored guidance in teamwork and skill application. These dimensions helped teams in develop skills and address state-level MCH challenges.

Conclusions for practice: Continuing professional development programs can help leaders learn to address complex state-level MCH challenges through integrated classroom-based skills development, work-based learning on state challenges, and tailored coaching.

Keywords: Leadership; Maternal and child health; Program evaluation; Workforce.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflicts of interest were reported by the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
How the cohort program improves practice and the public’s health
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Benefits and helpful features of cohort program components
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. AMCHP. (2008). State Title V workforce development survey training needs and professional development strategies preliminary findings. Retrieved from http://www.amchp.org/programsandtopics/WorkforceDevelopment/Documents/Is...
    1. AMCHP. (2016). 2016 Title V workforce assessment results. Retrieved from http://www.amchp.org/programsandtopics/WorkforceDevelopment/survey/Pages...
    1. Bogaert K, Castrucci BC, Gould E, Rider N, Whang C, Corcoran E. Top training needs of the governmental public health workforce. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. 2019;25:S134–S144. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000936. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Clarke AN, Cilenti D. Developing collaborative maternal and child health leaders: A descriptive study of the national maternal and child health workforce development center. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2018;22(1):17–23. doi: 10.1007/s10995-017-2399-4. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Coffey, A. M., Powis, L., Mullenix, A., Rivero, V., Evans, S., Fatima, H., Fleming, W. O., Hassmiller Lich, K., Orton, S., Cilenti, D., & Margolis, L. (in press). Enhancing workforce capacity to address complex challenges: The impact of the National Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development Center on Title V. Maternal and Child Health Journal. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources