In 2009, the Student Leadership Committee launched a formal evaluation of the two MCH Section student programs, the Student Fellows and the Student Authors Program. This evaluation is intended to assess student satisfaction with participation in the programs, gauge whether participation has led to further involvement in APHA and the MCH Section, and gather information to continually enhance the programs, which are designed to foster the development of leaders in science, policy, program, and practice related to the health of women, children, and their families. 

Each year the Section selects approximately 10 Fellows to participate in the year-long Student Fellows Program to provide a unique opportunity to become engaged in the work of the Section, meet leaders in the MCH field, build a network of MCH colleagues, participate in leadership development, and have an opportunity to make a contribution to the field of maternal and child health through the work of the Section.  The Student Authors Program, comprised of students who present during the Greg Alexander Outstanding Student Papers Session, promotes academic contributions and achievement in MCH among graduate students by providing an opportunity for them to present their research and be recognized for outstanding scholarship.

The evaluation is being implemented in phases. In 2009-2010, we conducted an initial evaluation of the experiences of the Student Fellows in the year-long fellowship and of the Student Authors experiences at the APHA Annual Conference.  Below is a brief summary of the evaluation results:

 A.  Student Fellows Program

“The MCH fellows program has allowed me to have an insider's perspective on how a section is run. From sitting in on executive committee meetings, to being on conference calls with senior leadership, the fellowship has left an indelible mark on my professional MCH career and I'm thankful for the opportunity.”

“The fellows program has served as a springboard to becoming more involved in the Section leadership and to make contacts in the field.”

• Ninety percent of Student Fellows either “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the fellowship helped to make important contacts in the field of MCH. 
• One hundred percent of Student Fellows either “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the fellowship has given them a better understanding of the MCH Section.
• Sixty percent of Student Fellows “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they received good mentoring in the program
• All Student Fellows “agreed” or “strongly agreed”  that they plan to be active in the MCH Section in the future.
• Ninety percent of Student Fellows “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they  will seek leadership positions in the MCH section in the future.
• Eighty percent of Student Fellows “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they were satisfied with the MCH Fellows program.

B.  Student Authors Program

Findings from the Student Authors experiences at the APHA Annual Meeting showed that:

• Seventy-five percent of Student Authors were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their experience at the meeting.
• Seventy-five percent of Student Authors noted that their participation as a presenter helped them to make professional contact.s
• Seventy-five percent of Student Authors indicated that participation as a Student Author has made them more likely to submit future abstracts to APHA or other conferences.

The Student Leadership Committee will continue to implement additional phases of the evaluation and to continually review results in order to improve programs. For additional information about the Student Leadership Programs or the evaluation, please contact Lauren Raskin Ramos, Secretary-Elect, at lramos@amchp.org.