Leading by Example: Modeling the Future of MCH

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Leading by Example Modeling the Future of MCH

• Donna J. Petersen, ScD
• Dean, USF College of Public Health

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Building Blocks 4 Promising Practice Models

• Premise
• We have always been innovators
• We must continue to model good behavior
• We must seize our leadership role
• We must recognize and capitalize on the strength
  of our partnership
• We can and will make a difference

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MCH A True Partnership

• Federal-State partnership for MCH was an
  INNOVATION
• First grants-in-aid to states
• Requiring LEADERSHIP in each state for the health
  and well-being of children and families was a new
  idea . . . and very controversial
• At 72 years of age, Title V has LONGEVITY as the
  longest running federal program

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MCH A True Partnership

• Broad Federal Leadership
• across relevant agencies and sectors
• with and for States
• Broad State Leadership
• across relevant agencies and sectors
• with and for Communities
• to assure the health of ALL women, children and
  families

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MCH A True Partnership

• This role and these responsibilities are unique
  even though they play out very differently state
  by state
• We look to the federal MCH Bureau for direction,
  leadership and the national perspective
• They look to us for innovation, for data, for
  stories to make the national case
• We have a tremendous responsibility but also
  tremendous potential

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We have history on our side

• The Childrens Bureau, 1912
• . . .to investigate and report upon all matters
  pertaining to the welfare of children and child
  life among all classes of our people . . .

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Weve been innovative from day one

• Entire population was of interest
• Prevention was the intended focus
• Directing resources to children was in our
  national interest
• Policy decisions should be based on data
• Health, welfare and education were linked
• Authority should rest in each State

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• It is a happy accident of the federal system
  that a single courageous state may, if its
  citizens choose, serve as a laboratory and try
  novel social and economic experiments without
  risk to the rest of the country
• Justice Louis Brandeis, 1932

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We know how to model good behavior

• Consider how much time you spend in meetings . .
  .
• 1. Seeking to learn
• Seeking to influence
• Hoping to avoid catastrophe
• Hoping to trip over an opportunity
• Listening
• Mediating
• Explaining

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Modeling Good Behavior

• Because NO ONE has the overarching responsibility
  you have
• Because NO ONE has the broad perspective you have
• Because EVERYONE has more money than you have
• Because you are only as good as your powers of
  persuasion (and your data)
• You have social justice and moral righteousness
  on your side

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Modeling Good Behavior

• The STATES are where the action is!
• The federal MCH Bureau assembles you at these and
  other meetings because it is in their best
  interest to assure that these experiments are
  widely shared
• Youre here because you each have something to
  learn AND you each have something to share
• More importantly, you must provide leadership
  back home . . .

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What is an MCH Leader?

• Understands and supports MCH values, mission and
  goals with a sense of purpose and moral
  commitment
• Values interdisciplinary collaboration and
  diversity and brings the capacity to think
  critically about MCH issues at population and
  individual levels as well as the capacity to
  communicate and work with others

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What is an MCH Leader?

• Possesses core knowledge of MCH populations and
  their needs and demonstrates professionalism in
  attitudes and working habits
• Continually seeks new knowledge and improvement
  of abilities and skills central to effective,
  evidence-based leadership

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What is an MCH Leader?

• Committed to sustaining infrastructure to
  recruit, train and mentor future MCH leaders to
  ensure the health and well-being of tomorrows
  children and families
• Responsive to changing political, social,
  scientific and demographic context and
  demonstrates the capability to change quickly and
  adapt in the face of emerging challenges and
  opportunities

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Leadership in Partnership

• As MCH Leaders, in a Federal-State, State to
  State and State-Community partnership, we have an
  obligation to lead by example
• Our responsibility is too great, any mistake too
  costly, for us to not use everything at our
  disposal to be as effective as we can be
• So, some thoughts for you to consider

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Leading by Example

• Number One
• Be open to new ideas

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Leading by Example

• Number Two
• Seek out models and commit to thoroughly
  understanding them
• how they were developed
• where and how they were implemented
• with what participants
• with what results
• never assume . . .
• get the facts (including the dirty little secrets)

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Leading By Example

• Number Three
• Borrow liberally
• Get over the not invented here problem
• Modify, adapt, reframe to your situation
• Take credit for the end product, but never forget
  to acknowledge the original source
• Provide feedback to the originator
• This is how we continually build the network that
  supports and sustains us

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Leading by Example

• Number Four
• Share your models freely
• Send your staff to conferences
• Encourage and reward staff for submitting
  abstracts to national and regional meetings
• PUBLISH, PUBLISH, PUBLISH create supports and
  incentives for staff
• Celebrate successes within your state

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Leading by Example

• Number Five
• Be willing to discard things that dont fit and
  be honest about things that dont work

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A few contributions from Florida

• Florida DOH linked a statewide KidCare enrollment
  outreach effort to the back-to-school tax free
  week
• Tampa Bay county health departments tested the
  readiness of their disaster preparedness medical
  reserve corps by having them do back to school
  physicals

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How did I learn about these?

• Attending the Florida Public Health Association
  meeting
• How often do you go to your state public health
  association meetings?
• Participating in quarterly meetings of the 10
  county health departments in the Tampa Bay region
• How often do you get out to your local agencies
  just to listen and learn?

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Leading by Example

• Leadership is often as simple as just showing up
• Leadership is all about attitude optimism is
  contagious
• Leadership is about everyone else thinking it was
  their idea . . . and about giving everyone else
  credit
• Leadership is letting someone else do the work if
  it gets the job done

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Leading by Example

• Never forget that data is your friend
• All of this begins with a thorough understanding
  of the problem
• Keep your needs assessment machinery going
  especially in the off years
• Surveillance is essential to spotting trends
• Focus on specific populations or geographic areas
• Focus on emerging issues

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Leading by Example

• Set priorities and stick to them
• But . . . Be open to opportunities
• Be true to your mission
• . . . Assure the health of all mothers and
  children . . .

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Leading by Example

• Be innovators
• ALWAYS model good behavior
• Embrace your role as a leader
• Let your history and longevity sustain you
• Be a true partner! Remember were all in this
  TOGETHER . . .
• Take advantage of every moment you have here to
  share with others

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Modeling the Future of MCH

• At a recent MCH Leadership Skills Training
  Institute, participants were asked to envision
  an ideal future for MCH
• After world peace and a smoke-free world, several
  themes emerged

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Modeling the Future of MCH

• An ideal future for MCH
• The importance of infrastructure
• The importance of systems and the relationships
  among the component parts
• The essential role of data
• The essential role of constituents
• Vision, the sine qua non
• All things you can do right now!

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Leading by Example Modeling the Future of MCH

• Be the change you want to see in the world
• The future of MCH is up to YOU!
• Thank you for letting me join you at this
  wonderful partnership meeting!