Graduate Student Internship Program

This internship has been filled.

Kentucky

Title V Needs Assessment Intern Assistant
Kentucky Department of Public Health, Division of Maternal and Child Health
Title V Needs Assessment Project, Frankfort, KY
Skill Areas: Data Analysis and Monitoring, Needs Assessment

Agency Information

The Division of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) is within the Department for Public Health and is under the direction of Dr. Ruth Ann Shepherd, MD, FAAP, CPHQ and Title V Director. Dr. Shepherd possesses expertise in the area of epidemiology and provides strong leadership in the areas of data collection, data analysis, evaluation and quality improvement. She is highly committed to the data-driven decision making in the Division and encourages student involvement. Dr. Shepherd has faculty appointments at the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, and the College of Public Health. In private practice, she has mentored many medical students and residents; since coming to Public Health, she has mentored students in capstone projects, field practicum. She is available for ongoing leadership, planning and consultation to the program and student as needed.

The MCH Division administers the Title V Block Grant and various programs and special initiatives. The Division has three main branches: Early Childhood Development Branch, Child and Family Health Improvement Branch, and Nutrition Services Branch. The MCH Division maintains a close working relationship with the Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement which includes programs such as Tobacco Control, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Comprehensive Cancer, Physical Activity and Obesity prevention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently assigned Dr. Sarojini Kanotra, a senior MCH Epidemiologist in the Kentucky Department of Public Health. She is responsible for building and enhancing maternal and child health (MCH) epidemiology and data capacity at the state level. Under her leadership the MCH team will collaborate on specific projects and will provide a rich infrastructure to support the intern through program knowledge sharing, consultation and technical assistance.

Purpose, goals, and objectives of internship

The MCH division is responsible for spearheading the MCH needs assessment, including the federally required 5-year, statewide MCH needs assessment and is therefore applying for a GSIP Intern to engage in MCH needs assessment at the state level. The intern’s day-today activities will focus on participation in the planning, implementation and reporting of this state wide assessment. This will enable the intern to understand the needs assessment process within the context of Title V MCH program framework and learn the needs assessment methods and processes. He/she will learn hands on a strategic community planning process such as MAPP (Mobilization for Action through Planning and Partnerships). The MCH Division envisions conducting community forums at nine locations throughout Kentucky. All these activities entail extensive interdisciplinary collaboration. The intern will be part of a team of epidemiologists from the Division and the different branches. This team meets regularly on a weekly basis to troubleshoot different issues as part of a group. The needs assessment will be multidimensional, so will provide opportunity for involvement in numerous analytic studies.

The goal of the internship is to promote general knowledge and experience of state public health agency activities and to participate in implementation of related components of a statewide needs assessment, particularly related to data management, analysis, evaluation and reporting.

Objectives for the internship include 1) assist with collecting and analyzing primary quantitative and qualitative data for needs assessment; 2) Conduct research on evidence-based Title V MCH services to help in building capacity in the provision of services in the areas of need; 3) systematically analyze and update Kentucky’s children’s health profile using data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health; 4) participate in agency partnership advisory meetings relative to MCH needs assessment.

The project supervisor will be Sarojini Kanotra, MS, PhD, MPH, senior MCH Epidemiologist. The intern, Dr. Kanotra and the Needs Assessment workgroup will work together to refine all aspects of the program including development of a timeline to fulfill the overall goals and objectives. The intern will be assigned an office, computer and phone and will be provided all supplies needed to support and accomplish the internship activities.

Ruth Ann Shepherd, MD, FAAP, CPHQ and Title V Director will provide oversight for the internship assuring that the intern has opportunities and experiences to collaborate with public health colleagues and gain understanding and insight into public health systems.

Data or analytic tasks and activities

Assist with designing and disseminating a survey for providers in the community, assist in developing a database for collection of responses, assist in analyzing the data and writing a report. Update Kentucky’s children’s health profile using data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health.

Data or analytic skills required

• Familiar with Microsoft Access, and Excel, SAS a plus.
• Familiar with or have a desire to learn about Maternal and Child Health issues/data.
• Possess a basic understanding of research methodology and database development.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Desires to learn more about needs assessment and its usefulness in public health research

Supervisors

Primary Supervisor: Sarojini Kanotra, MS, PhD, MPH, Senior MCH Epidemiologist

Secondary Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ann Shepherd, MD, FAAP, CPHQ and Director of the Division of Maternal and Child Health

Internship begins

Spring/Summer 2009

Housing

The intern is responsible for acquiring his/her own housing.

Transportation

The site is not located near public transportation.

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