Abstract
Life course perspective, social determinants of health, and health equity have been combined into one comprehensive model,
the life course model (LCM), for strategic planning by US Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child
Health Bureau. The purpose of this project was to describe a faculty development process; identify strategies for incorporation
of the LCM into nutrition leadership education and training at the graduate and professional levels; and suggest broader implications
for training, research, and practice. Nineteen representatives from 6 MCHB-funded nutrition leadership education and training
programs and 10 federal partners participated in a one-day session that began with an overview of the models and concluded
with guided small group discussions on how to incorporate them into maternal and child health (MCH) leadership training using
obesity as an example. Written notes from group discussions were compiled and coded emergently. Content analysis determined
the most salient themes about incorporating the models into training. Four major LCM-related themes emerged, three of which
were about training: (1) incorporation by training grants through LCM-framed coursework and experiences for trainees, and
similarly framed continuing education and skills development for professionals; (2) incorporation through collaboration with
other training programs and state and community partners, and through advocacy; and (3) incorporation by others at the federal
and local levels through policy, political, and prevention efforts. The fourth theme focused on anticipated challenges of
incorporating the model in training. Multiple methods for incorporating the LCM into MCH training and practice are warranted.
Challenges to incorporating include the need for research and related policy development.
the life course model (LCM), for strategic planning by US Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child
Health Bureau. The purpose of this project was to describe a faculty development process; identify strategies for incorporation
of the LCM into nutrition leadership education and training at the graduate and professional levels; and suggest broader implications
for training, research, and practice. Nineteen representatives from 6 MCHB-funded nutrition leadership education and training
programs and 10 federal partners participated in a one-day session that began with an overview of the models and concluded
with guided small group discussions on how to incorporate them into maternal and child health (MCH) leadership training using
obesity as an example. Written notes from group discussions were compiled and coded emergently. Content analysis determined
the most salient themes about incorporating the models into training. Four major LCM-related themes emerged, three of which
were about training: (1) incorporation by training grants through LCM-framed coursework and experiences for trainees, and
similarly framed continuing education and skills development for professionals; (2) incorporation through collaboration with
other training programs and state and community partners, and through advocacy; and (3) incorporation by others at the federal
and local levels through policy, political, and prevention efforts. The fourth theme focused on anticipated challenges of
incorporating the model in training. Multiple methods for incorporating the LCM into MCH training and practice are warranted.
Challenges to incorporating include the need for research and related policy development.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-012-0959-1
- Authors
- Betsy Haughton, Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 W. Cumberland Avenue, JHB 229, Knoxville, TN 36996-1920, USA
- Kristen Eppig, Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 W. Cumberland Avenue, JHB 229, Knoxville, TN 36996-1920, USA
- Shannon M. Looney, Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 W. Cumberland Avenue, JHB 229, Knoxville, TN 36996-1920, USA
- Leslie Cunningham-Sabo, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, 234 Gifford Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1571, USA
- Bonnie A. Spear, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 7th Avenue S., CPPI 410, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- Marsha Spence, Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 W. Cumberland Avenue, JHB 229, Knoxville, TN 36996-1920, USA
- Jamie S. Stang, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875