Shaping the Future: The Title V MCH Internship and State Agencies Partner to Promote Undergraduate Student MCH Workforce Development

Full Description: Preparation of future Maternal and Child Health (MCH) leaders is a priority for HRSA and MCHB Training Programs. The Title V MCH Internship through the National MCH Workforce Development Center contributes an innovative model to support this priority by immersing students in summer projects supporting state Title V agencies. One unique element of this internship is the pairing of undergraduate students from MCHB funded Pipeline (now LEAP) programs with MCH graduate students from funded programs in Schools of Public Health. This approach augments preceptor mentoring and achieves a multi-mentored workforce development pathway for undergraduate students.

From 2017-2021,16 undergraduate students were recruited from all 6 of the Pipeline programs funded during that period. All students were from underrepresented groups and were accepted into the program via a competitive process. Outcome data include quantitative and qualitative responses by interns to a pre- and post-internship survey. Title V Agency preceptors also completed a post-survey. More than 66% of the interns entered the Internship seeking exposure to MCH, Title V, public health practice and opportunities for team collaboration and leadership development. Post-survey data show 66-100% reported their expectations had been met, including exposure to program evaluation, survey development, and communication with critical stakeholders. Intern knowledge of MCH and Title V improved due to the orientation and embedded training sessions that are part of the pedagogical model of the Title V MCH Internship, including special sessions focused on the unique needs of undergraduate interns. As a result of the internship, undergraduates reported increased confidence in seeking out exposure to new MCH experiences and awareness of MCH career paths. Between 87.5-100% of preceptors affirmed that the graduate-undergraduate pairs worked effectively to accomplish project goals each year. In addition, 50-90% of preceptors stated that they recommend this internship to other Title V agencies. Narrative comments from preceptors included: ”[The interns are] a huge asset for completing a large evaluation in a short amount of time;” “We really got a lot from the students and hope they got just as much from us;” and “Keep this program in place. It is beneficial and is the bridge that's needed for students to enter the public health workforce.”

Because the Title V MCH Internship was able to recognize and respond to the unique needs of undergraduate students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, these interns emerged with hands-on experience that expanded their awareness of MCH and public health at a critical time for planning their graduate education and workforce preparation. Likewise, Title V preceptors reported that the peer-mentoring and pedagogical model of the internship, enabled the student teams to work effectively to accomplish the projects that helped the agency meet its goals.

Abbreviated Description: The National MCH Workforce Development Center’s Title V MCH Internship program offers an innovative model for early workforce development of undergraduate students. Between 2017 and 2021,16 undergraduate students from Pipeline (now LEAP) programs were paired with graduate students from MCHB funded programs in Schools of Public Health for work on projects designed by state Title V agencies. Most interns reported enhanced knowledge and awareness of Title V and public health practice, and most gained experience with program evaluation and communicating with stakeholders. Title V preceptors affirmed the peer-mentoring and pedagogical model of the Internship and acknowledged that both students and state agencies benefited from the team aspects of the Internship.