Emerging Leaders in MCH Nutrition Training Institute
2014-2015

What an exciting time for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and public health nutrition - a time of great challenges and opportunities! Our health care system is transitioning from one that focuses on sick care to one that is more prevention oriented; a system where nutrition services will play a pivotal role. This is occurring at a time when a large number of nutrition leaders will be retiring and leaving the workforce. The future success of public health/MCH nutrition services depends on identifying and training emerging leaders, so that they are positioned to assume the forthcoming leadership roles.

The Emerging Leaders in MCH Nutrition Training Institute is a year-long program designed to train future nutrition leaders in the area of MCH Nutrition. It is made possible by a joint collaborative effort of MCH Nutrition Training Programs at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Minnesota and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

The Institute is a 12 month program, with the option to extend for 6 months to serve in a mentoring capacity for new participants. The third program, the 2014-15 cohort, began with a face-to-face meeting on February 17-19, 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama in conjunction with the Intensive Course in Pediatric Nutrition. In addition to attending the intensive course, the group met on the evening of February 18. The evening program focused on strength-based assessment with a discussion of the MCH Leadership Competencies. A stipend of $800, to help defray travel costs associated with attending the meeting, was available for participants who demonstrated need. Registration to the Intensive Course was waived.

The first half of the Institute consists of a leadership assessment, readings and participation in monthly conference calls which focus on leadership skill development, centered on the MCH Leadership Competencies. In the second six months of the Institute, participants work in teams on a policy brief project. Individualized coaching is provided to participants. Faculty will be available throughout the Institute to continue building the nutritionist’s leadership skills and provide guidance on the policy brief project. There is no registration fee for the Emerging Leaders in MCH Nutrition Training Institute.

To be eligible to apply for the Emerging Leaders in MCH Nutrition Training Institute, participants must meet the following qualifications:

• Be identified as an emerging nutrition leader, which is defined as someone who has been employed as a community/public health nutritionist for not less than four and not more than ten years;
• A Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, or licensed/certified nutritionist/dietitian;
• Work in the area of MCH within a state or local public health agency or a community based organization.
• Work in a state or territory east of the Rocky Mountains.*
• Demonstrated leadership at work, within a professional organization or in the community;
• Have Internet access;
• Be CERTAIN of availability to participate in the Institute for the entire 12 months, from February 2014 to January 2015**;
• Be willing to commit to a face-to -face meeting in February 2014 and approximately 5 hours a month for Institute activities, which will include readings, monthly coaching and conference calls, completion of an MCH nutrition project, and other activities as determined by the cohort; and
• Have supervisor/agency support for participation.
  

For further information on the Emerging Leaders in MCH Nutrition Training Institute, contact
Margaret Tate at 623-581-9880 or mjtate@cox.net

Faculty

• Bonnie A. Spear, PhD, RD
  Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL
• Diane Anderson, PhD, RD, CSP, LD Associate Professor of Pediatrics Baylor College of Medicine
  Houston, TX
• Jamie Stang, PhD, MPH, RD, LN Associate Professor
  University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
  Minnesota, MN
• Aida Miles, MMSc, RD, LD, CSP, CNSD Director, Coordinated MPH Program
  University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
  Minnesota, MN
• Marsha Spence, PhD, MS-MPH, RD, LDN Assistant Professor (Research)
  Assistant Director, Public Health Nutrition University of Tennessee, Knoxville Knoxville, TN
• Betsy Haughton, EdD, RD Professor
  University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  Knoxville, TN
• Margaret Tate, RD, MS
  M J Tate Consulting, LLC Phoenix, AZ
  2014-2015 Participants
• Mandy Burbank, RD, LRD
  Grand Forks Public Health Dietitian Grand Forks Public Health Department Grand Forks, ND
  Meredith Evans MS, RD, LD Clinical Dietitian
  Commission for Children With Special Health Care Needs
  Louisville, KY
• Bre Haviland, MS, RD, LD, CLC
  Bureau of Child and Family Health Services
  Ohio Department of Health
  Columbus, OH
• Lauren M. Hosterman RD, LDN Nutrition Specialist
  Maryland WIC Program
  Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
  Baltimore, MD
• Kimberly James, MS, RDN, LD
  Senior Nutritionist/Training Coordinator
  Collins County WIC McKinney, TX
• Molly B. Killman, MS, RD, LD
  Director, Nutrition and Physical Activity Division
  AL Department of Public Health
  Montgomery, AL
• Peggy Leung-Strle, MS, RD, LDN, CLC WIC MIS Nutritionist
  Nutrition Division
  Massachusetts Department of Public Health
  Boston, MA
• Karen J. Trbovich, MS, RD, CDN Public Health Nutritionist
  Child and Adult Care Food Program
  Albany, NY
  

* The Western Leadership Nutrition Network, coordinated by MCH Nutrition training programs at UCLA and UC Berkeley is currently providing leadership training to the western states.

Photo Caption
2014-2015 Leaders in MCH Nutrition Institute
Row 1 seated: Peggy Leung-Strle, MS, RD, LDN, CLC; Lauren M. Hosterman RD, LDN; Mandy Burbank, RD, LRD; Meredith Evans MS, RD, LD; Bre Haviland, MS, RD, LD, CLC Row 2 standing: Kimberly James, MS, RDN, LD; Karen J. Trbovich, MS, RD, CDN; Molly B. Killman, MS, RD, LD; Betsy Haughton, EdD, RD; Bonnie A. Spear, PhD, RD; Diane Anderson, PhD, RD, CSP, LD; Marsha Spence, PhD, MS-MPH, RD, LDN
Missing from photo: Aida Miles, MMSc, RD, LD, CSP, CNSD; Jamie Stang, PhD, MPH, RD, LN; and Margaret Tate, RD, MS