What is the Family Scholars Program?
The Family Scholars Program (FSP) represents an opportunity to identify, encourage and train family leaders. This program strives to provide Family Scholars with the knowledge, tools and resources to enhance their development as family leaders, and to promote policies, programs and systems at the national, state and/or local-level that address important issues impacting the health and well-being of women, children and families, including children and youth with special health care needs.
Program Objectives
By the end of the Family Scholarship Program participants will:
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Gain a greater understanding of Title V and how it works in their state or territory
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Increase their involvement in Title V within their state or territory in an advisory, voluntary or staff capacity
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Learn strategies to engage in Title V programs
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Identify knowledge and skills associated with the seven Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership Skills
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Widen their network of family leaders, parent professionals, MCH and CYSCHN professionals
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Receive mentoring from experienced family leaders (Family Mentors)
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Increase individual knowledge in MCH Leadership Competencies
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Develop a relationship with elected officials at the local or state level
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Increase their understanding of AMCHP and its programs
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Increase their understanding of current and emerging issues impacting women, children and families at the national level
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Provide feedback on how to improve the Family Scholars Program
Program History
For the past fifteen years, AMCHP has supported family scholars to participate in the conference, with the program steadily growing. Families contribute invaluable insight and experience to AMCHP programs and policies concerning maternal and child health, and children and youth with special health care needs. Within AMCHP, families advise on the development of publications and programs, and also serve on AMCHP committees and the Board of Directors. Families who have attended the conference consistently praise the value of the conference as a way to network with other families and Title V programs, and to understand more clearly how Title V makes a difference in the lives of children, youth, families and communities.
Announcements
The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, with support of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, awarded scholarships to family leaders to attend the 2010 AMCHP Annual Conference through the Family Scholars Program. For more information on the conference, visit www.amchp.org/conference.
New this year, the 2010 Family Scholars Program centered on seven of the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Competencies. For background information on the FSP and its competencies, click here.
Additionally, Family Scholars were matched with seasoned family leaders (Family Mentors) that have previously participated in the program and have attended the AMCHP conference within the last three years. Mentors assist family scholars before, during and after the conference.
We are no longer accepting applications for Family Scholars and Family Mentors. All applications for the 2010 conference were due by December 4, 2009.
Staff Contact
Librada Estrada, MPH, CHES
Associate Director, Workforce & Leadership Development, Family Involvement
Direct: (202) 266-3046
Main: (202) 775-0436
E-mail: lestrada@amchp.org