Graduate Student Internship Program

This internship has been filled.

Montana: Missoula and Gallatin Counties

Maternal Child Health Data Analyst
Missoula City-County Health Department & Gallatin City-County Health Department
Maternal Child Health Public Health Home Visiting, Missoula, MT
Skill Area: Data Analysis and Monitoring

Agency Information

In 2005, two of the largest counties in Montana, Gallatin (pop. 75,000) and Missoula (pop. 100,000) discontinued entering Maternal Child Health data and contracted with CHC Software, Inc to develop a specialized software program, Health Data Information Systems (HDIS) for collection of our MCH data.  Both counties use the following screening tools:  Life Skills Progression (LSP) screen; Ages and Stages developmental screen; ACOG domestic violence assessment; TACE substance abuse screen; High Risk Intake & Outcome (HRIO) tool, High Risk Pregnancy Intake & Outcome (HRPIO) tool, and the Edinburgh depression screen.  Each of the counties receives Title V federal funding for Public Health Home Visiting and the MCH Block Grant.

Purpose, goals, and objectives of internship

The purpose of the internship is to develop a systematic data analysis of the information we are collecting in our MCH Public Health Home Visiting program.  Our goals include the following: 1. Using existing data from HRSA MCH Bloc Grant, National Institute of Health, National Immunization Survey, Health & Human Services Community Health Indicators, Association of Maternal Child Health Programs (AMCHP), CityMatCH and other sources and compare the data from the 5 counties to determine best practice; 2. Provide outcome data to our major stake holders; and 4.  Utilize the data to secure future funding for expansion of MCH programs.  The objective of the program will be to demonstrate through statistical evidence the work we do is making a difference with MCH clients.

Data or analytic tasks and activities

Comparison and analysis of the data collected as outlined above with national data and between counties.  The MCH Data Analyst will work with each of the counties through the HDIS system to determine how best to compare the data.  A multivariate analysis will use the information from the various screening tools to determine which interventions have positive outcomes and how best to exhibit these with graphs, reports, etc. for the public and major stakeholders, including the Board of Health, County Commissioners, City Council, Montana Department of Health and Human Services, physicians, and nurses.

Data or analytic skills required

Excel required: Access, SPSS, SAS are preferred but not required.

Supervisors

Primary:  Julie A. Serstad, RN, BSN, MSN, Director, Health Services, Missoula City-County Health Department

Secondary:  Trudy Mizner, RN, BSN, Supervisor MCH Home Visiting Program, Missoula City-County Health Department

Internship begins

June 2009

Housing

Apartments and possibly dorms are available in the summer and are listed on Craigslist and in the Missoulian.

Transportation

There is public transportation a block away, and Missoula is a bike-friendly city.

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