Women’s and Children’s
Health Policy Center
Cynthia Minkovitz, MD, MPP
September 5, 2012
[email protected]
www.jhsph.edu/wchpc
WCHPC Mission
“…..to draw upon the science base of the
university setting to conduct and disseminate
research to inform public policies and
programs, and the practice of maternal and
child health nationally.”
Brief History
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Founded 1991
Multiple funders- federal, foundations, and states
Linkages to GWU, UCLA, U Michigan, Penn State, Harvard…
Linkages to organizations
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Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP)
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
CityMatCH
National Conferences of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Nemours Health and Prevention Services (NHPS)
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
National Association of Community Health Centers
WCHPC Key Features
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National in scope
Long-term policy agendas & longitudinal
analysis
Application of findings, link to practice, & to
the practical
Address policy challenges at multiple levels &
across public and private arenas
WCHPC Conceptual Approach
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Develop analytic frameworks, methods & tools
to implement new approaches
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Conduct evaluations of national demonstrations
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Undertake translational activities – convene
symposia, produce policy resource & technical
briefs
Core Faculty
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Wendy Bennett, MD, MPH
Joann Bodurtha, MD, MPH
Pam Donohue, ScD
Michele Decker, ScD, MPH
Kevin Frick, PhD
Holly Grason, MA
Bernard Guyer, MD, MPH
Sai Ma, PhD
Cynthia Minkovitz, MD, MPP
Anne Riley, PhD
Marjory Ruderman, MHS
Chris Smith, PhD
Barry Solomon, MD, MPH
Pam Surkan, PhD, ScD
Donna Strobino, PhD
What We Do, How We Do It
 Collaborate with states from inception to
implementation
 Engage federal/national stakeholders throughout
the process
 Build in benefits and rewards for academic, state,
and federal/national partners
 Devise and pursue companion activities to diffuse
and sustain the work in the field
Some Current WCHPC Projects
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Early Childhood Health and Policy
 Investing in Kids; Foundations of Lifelong Health
 Meta Analysis of Early Childhood Health Interventions
 Lifetime Cost of Early Obesity
 State Policies (Oral Health, Tobacco, Obesity) & Childhood Health
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Children and Youth with
Special Health Care
Needs
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Public Health Systems
and Survival of Children
with Sickle Cell Disease
Evaluation of Maryland’s
Integrated Community
Systems
Some Current WCHPC Projects
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Women’s and Perinatal Health
 Women’s Health Curriculum in SPH
 Maternal exposure to environmental toxicants
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Public Health Systems and Workforce
 Workforce Survey
 Dyson Initiative National Evaluation
 MCH Leadership Training Program; MCH Epi Training Grant
 MCH Performance Measurement– training and evaluation
Policy Brief Module
Video lecture: The Art and Craft of Policy Briefs
3 Exercises
Resources
Transforming a Not So Good Policy Brief
Policy Brief Checklist
WCHPC Interface with Students
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Contribute to resources – Policy News Briefs,
MCH Website directory, On-line MCH Program
& Policy Compendium
Explore quantitative & qualitative data sets
Develop background literature reviews, author
MCH policy research briefs
Participate in data collection efforts
Complete special studies, internships, or
employment
Policy Briefs, 2010-2012
WCHPC and Baltimore City
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Participate on boards of community organizations
Advocates for Children and Youth
 Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc.
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Contribute to ongoing city-wide initiatives
Strategies to Improve Birth Outcomes
 Better Babies Leadership Action Program
 East Baltimore Development Initiative
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Engage in collaborative research
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NICHD Community Child Health Network
Current Student Research
Assistant Opportunities
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Research assistant with Dr. Michele Decker on project focused
on sexual and reproductive health among women in sex work
(Starts 2nd term).
 Send CV to Kelli Hirsch at [email protected]
Research assistant with Dr. Anne Riley focused on family health
policy and maternal depression policy (special studies).
 Send CV to Anne Riley at [email protected]
Research assistant with Dr. Anne Riley conceptualizing family
belonging as an aspect of health (advanced skills).
 Send CV to Anne Riley at [email protected]
Research assistant with Ms. Holly Grason developing the MCH
Navigator, a learning portal for MCH professionals.
 Send CV to Holly Grason at [email protected]
Come and Learn More !
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www.jhsph.edu/wchpc
Student/Faculty Brown Bag Lunch
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October 11, 2012
Kelli Hirsch, [email protected]