Alabama State University News June 8, 2011 ASU Receives Grant to Support Students Interested in Maternal and Child Health ASU's College of Health Sciences has been awarded a five-year, $850,000 grant from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is the second time that the college has received a grant to create a Pipeline for students in pre-professional and professional programs at Alabama State University to pursue health related careers with a focus on maternal and child health. The MCH Pipeline Training Program is housed in the College's Center to Advance Rehabilitative Health and Education. Students selected to participate in the MCH Pipeline Training Program (Pipeline) will be eligible to receive a stipend and earn an 18-credit certificate/minor in maternal and child health. The Pipeline Training Program plans to enroll at least 20 students per cohort annually. Dr. Steven Chesbro, dean of ASU's College of Health Sciences, said this grant complements the work already being done in CARE. "The College of Health Sciences' Center to Advance Rehabilitative Health and Education continues to fulfill its purpose, which is to address the needs of minority populations," Chesbro said. "We are excited to have this opportunity to develop students' interests in maternal and child health careers." ASU's Center to Advance Rehabilitative Health and Education was created to address the rehabilitative health needs of African-Americans and other minority populations in five key domains: clinical services, community-based services, educational services, policy reform and research. Dr. Alfred Smith, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, says the grant allows the University to advance a key component of its vision. "One of our primary academic goals is to establish six Centers of Excellence at the University, one in each of our colleges," said Smith. "Each center will be supported by external funding. This grant makes the continued implementation of the center within the College of Health Sciences possible." The grant is a component of the Maternal and Child Health Improvement Program (MCHIP), a unit within CARE. Pipeline Coordinator Catrina Waters says there is a great need for diversity in professions related to maternal and child. "One of our goals is to help train and retain undergraduates to matriculate into maternal and child health related careers," said Waters. "But even more than that, we want to prepare them to go into their communities and make a positive impact on issues related to women's health and the health of children." Waters says the grant is of great benefit to ASU students who are interested in careers in maternal and child health. "They can actually start here in the program as freshmen and take advantage of all the support, resources and networking that's available," said Waters. "We want to prepare them for their next step in career development." Waters says another benefit of Pipeline is the Summer Connect Academy. Students are allowed to apply for the five-week program at the end of their freshman year. Waters says the 20 students who are selected for the Academy benefit from one-on-one interaction with professors and from the opportunities for clinical observations and shadowing professionals. The program also provides a stipend for participants. For more information, contact Dr. Steven Chesbro, dean, College of Health Sciences; Dr. Valda Mongtomery, program director and associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy; or Catrina Waters. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.