Continuing Education

The UIC MCHP serves MCH professionals in the community through a variety of continuing education opportunities.

2010 MCH Leadership Retreat

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program will hold the 3rd annual MCH Leadership Retreat on July19-21, 2010 at the Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus in Oakbrook, IL. The retreat will focus on the implementation of equity-based interventions within the context of the life-course perspective. The program will address individual- and systems-level change to make this paradigm shift a reality. Participants will develop their leadership skills, explore their legacy, and build an intergenerational MCH community of practice.

This working retreat is designed to be highly interactive with many opportunities to engage in thoughtful, intellectual conversations and activities with your MCH colleagues. There will be opportunities for self-reflection, self-care, and rejuvenation. The MCH workforce works hard to improve the loves of out women, children, and families! We use this time to connect, reflect, refuel, and get clarity about your focus.

If you have any specific questions, please contact Kris Risley, DrPH at 312.996.2875 or kyrisley@uic.edu or Jaime Klaus, MA at 312.996.0724 or jaimkl@uic.edu.

Evidence-Based Challenges in MCH

In 2008, the UIC MCH Program developed four case studies for use in the 2008 MCH Leadership Retreat: Leadership, Legacy, and Community. The case studies address common evidence-based challenges in MCH: 1) The Intervention Works but Not for the Intended Problem: The Case of Prenatal Care and Low Birth Weight/Prematurity, 2) The Intervention Works But There is More Adherence/Uptake in Some Populations: The Case of Breastfeeding, 3) There is Deep Commitment to an Intervention by Some Key Groups but the Evidence Base is Limited: The Case of the Medical Home Model, 4) The Problem is Significant but There is No Known Prevention Intervention: The Case of Autism.

Each case study was designed to be used as the basis for a 3-hour workshop that will help you take a closer look at the evidence-based challenges we face in MCH. In the links below, you will find an overview of the case, a copy of the case study, discussion questions, discussion guidelines, facilitator instructions, and references. Please feel free to use as is or make modifications that suit your individual agency/organizational needs.

Links to Case Studies:

• The Intervention Works but Not for the Intended Problem: The Case of Prenatal Care and Low Birth      Weight/Prematurity

• The Intervention Works But There is More Adherence/Uptake in Some Populations: The Case of Breastfeeding

MCH Brown Bag Seminars

The UIC-SPH MCH program hosts brown bag seminars on current issues in MCH. All UIC faculty, staff, and students as well as state and local MCH agency personnel (public and private) and all other MCH professionals are encouraged to attend.

All seminars are held from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. The locations of the seminars vary. To learn more about upcoming seminars, please contact Kris Risley, DrPH at 312.996.2875 or kyrisley@uic.edu.

Leadership Coaching for MCH Professionals

Leadership Coaching for MCH Professionals is a 6-month distance-based, professional leadership development and coaching program for MCH professionals in DHHS Regions V and VII.

The program includes monthly group leadership development phone calls and monthly individual coaching sessions with a professional leadership/executive coach. All work takes place by phone. The target audience includes intergenerational, interdisciplinary MCH professionals from DHHS Regions V and VII who work in a Title V-funded program or an MCHB-funded training program (LEND, LEAH, PPC, SPH). Participants may include senior level leaders, mid-level managers, emerging leaders, and young professionals.

Participants in this program will be able to:

• Identify their leadership strengths and action steps to support the enhancement of these strengths.
• Identify their leadership gaps and steps to address noted gaps.
• Align their decision-making process with personal/professional values.
• Engage in self-reflection exercises to enhance personal leadership and explore opportunities to     improve their skill set, work satisfaction, and level of work engagement.
• Identify sources of personal reward and rejuvenation to sustain productivity and MCH commitment.
• Identify their passion for MCH and engage in work that has the impact they desire.
• Create a leadership development action plan to support their ongoing leadership development and commitment to the field of MCH.field of MCH.

If you are a participant in the January 2010 program click here to access the recordings of our monthly calls.