Promoting careers for minorities in MCH: The HBCU-MCH Initiative

Over the past century, there have been dramatic improvements in MCH indicators, in particular infant mortality. While the overall infant mortality in the US has decreased several fold, there remains a disparity for African Americans equal to or greater than 100% depending on the community. A study by the IOM recommends increasing the number of minority health professionals as a key strategy to eliminate health disparities. Unfortunately, the MCH workforce remains predominantly Caucasian while the demographic profile of the clients served is increasingly diverse.

To address these issues, Morgan State University has established (in collaboration with the Consortium of African-American Public Health Programs) the HBCU-MCH Initiative, the primary goal of which is to increase the availability of research, education, training, and leadership development opportunities for future healthcare professionals in MCH within HBCUs, and thus increase the percentage of the MCH workforce that is African American.

The components of the Initiative include: • An online MCH Certificate Program, with three classes and an internship. • An MCH summer certificate training for HBCU faculty who will be instructors at their home school, oversee an environmental scan of MCH services in their local community(ies), and serve as advisors/mentors for students' MCH practica. • A research seminar course with guest speakers for MSU graduate students interested in MCH.

The distal goal is to improve the health of African American mothers, children and families, and therefore reduce or eliminate the persistent health disparities between African Americans and the rest of the US population.