Maternal and Child Health Leadership
The following definition for Maternal and Child Health Leadership was adapted by the AMCHP Workforce Development Committee on May 5, 2010. It is originally based on the definition for MCH Leadership from the MCH Leadership Competencies—A Collaborative Web Site of the MCH Training Grantee Network
- An MCH leader is one who understands and supports MCH values, mission, and goals with a sense of purpose and moral commitment.
- He or she values diversity and collaboration among disciplines and generations.
- He or she brings the capacity to think critically about MCH issues at both the population and individual levels, as well as to communicate and work with others and use self-reflection.
- The MCH leader possesses core knowledge of MCH populations and their needs and demonstrates professionalism in attitudes and working habits.
- He or she continually seeks new knowledge and improvement of abilities and skills central to effective, evidence-based leadership.
- The MCH leader is also committed to sustaining an infrastructure to recruit, train and mentor future MCH leaders to ensure the health and well-being of tomorrow’s children and families.
- Finally, the MCH leader is responsive to the changing political, social, scientific, and demographic context and demonstrates the capability to change quickly and adapt in the face of emerging challenges and opportunities.
Project Areas
Would you like the opportunity to speak with an experienced MCH professional, someone who had been there/done that as an MCH/CYSHCN Director, or that had some tips on succeeding as a Title V Director?
Are you looking to engage in a valuable volunteer opportunity, have experience to share with another Title V Director or remember what it was like when you first started off as an MCH/CYSHCN Director?
The New Director Mentor Program is now accepting applications from new directors, individuals in their positions three years or less, and from seasoned directors, in their position five years or more, to participate in a mentoring relationship. Click here for more information on the Director Mentor Program.
Related Resources
- Free on-line leadership modules now available!
The Maternal and Child Health Public Health Leadership Institute (MCH-PHLI) has made available six on-line modules focusing on Peer Coaching, Creating Innovative Cultures, Social Marketing, Cultural Competence and Global Leadership, Adaptive Leadership and an MCH Primer: An Angle on MCH Systems. Modules range from 15-60 minutes and present practical skills for those working in public sector organizations. For a detailed description or to access these resources, visit: http://www.mchphli.org/?page=try_a_module.
- The latest version of the Maternal and Child Health Competencies, Version 3.0, is now available at http://leadership.mchtraining.net. This streamlined version decreases the number of competencies from 94 to 72 as the result of a modified Delphi Technique, a method of expert consensus that identified the competencies considered most important to MCH professionals. The competencies are organized under three categories, Self, Others, and Wider Community. The competencies represented in this version continue to be the result of an iterative and inclusive work-in-progress. Based on feedback from the field, the PDF of version 3.0 also includes a “clickable” table of contents by which you can navigate the document.
The framework was adopted by the AMCHP Board and will be incorporated into future AMCHP trainings and programmatic activities.
Key Resources for Orientating Staff to Title V / Maternal and Child Health
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The Division of Research, Training and Education, MCHB, HRSA, has developed a one-page document listing available resources for orienting staff and others to Title V Maternal and Child Health. To access the document, click here.
Related AMCHP Links
AMCHP Workforce Development Committee