Project Description:
The target area that the team has selected for this TA grant is systems change advocacy. We choose this area because implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is likely to have substantial impact on the care of children and the future of Maternal and Child Health in this nation. We need and want to be at the table as the roll-out of ACA is evaluated in our state. We need to provide input to preserve the distinctive features of child health that we have learned lead to reduced mortality and morbidity in young children. We need to provide a voice for children with disabilities and complex health conditions.
The size and diversity of California challenge any single institution to have a statewide impact on child health and MCH systems, particularly in these dynamic times. Moreover, organizing the many communities around the state towards critical MCH-related systems change advocacy and policy outcomes requires a local presence and the capacity to organize local grassroots efforts into a coordinated statewide voice. The CA DBP and LEND programs recently met in person with The representatives members of the California-based MCHB funded training programs recently met in-person(nutrition, public health, adolescent health) and on 2 subsequent conference calls to discuss the initiation of a network which we will call the California MCH Learning Collaborative (CA MCH LC). Our concept is modeled after the exemplary Alabama MCH Leadership Network (http://al.mchtraining.net/). At the table (and on the call) were leaders from the CA Title V program, who are completely on-board to work with the group. Neal Halfon MD MPH is assisting the group in articulating its overall goals.
We propose that the 4 DBP and LEND programs will to work collectively, as an interdisciplinary learning consortium community of with all 11 MCHB-funded training programs, in the state to leverage our resources towards statewide policy systems change advocacy agendaimpact. We recognize that this proposed structure may be different from what the request for technical assistance had anticipated. However, we have committed to a dedicated and collaborative effort. We could serveenvision that this collaborative will serve as the backbone of statewide MCH coordination for common curricula and leadership training resources, systems change advocacy, content expertise, research and state of the art clinical practices. as well as systems change advocacy.
Key to this effort would be shared responsibility and decision-making with rotating leadership. Once the structure is articulated, funding could be sought to sustain our effort. As a first step, we propose a one-day face-to-face meeting to deliberate a mission, vision, and the organizational structure for the proposed California MCH Learning Collaborative (CA-MCH-LC).
The facilitators will build alignment towards the goal of an effective CA-MCH-LC. They will engage the 11 MCHB training programs in CA in a collaborative process to develop a common vision and a set of strategies. They will gather and share data from clients and other stakeholders, and facilitate the development of a detailed workplan toward successful implementation of our network.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English
