Building on the momentum of its Town Hall meeting at the November 2009 APHA Annual Meeting, the MCH Section reached out to conference-goers over several days to learn more about how Web 2.0 technologies can be employed to expand and strengthen connections with and among its members. A two-question poll , employed at a number of sessions and at the Section exhibit booth to explore the use and utility of specific social media strategies, included the following questions:

• Which social media applications are most useful to you in gathering and sharing ideas and information related to MCH training?
• How would availability of these applications in the MCH community be useful to you?

Forty-three individuals participated in the poll at APHA, and additional data on use of social media technology were simultaneously gathered by several MCH training program grantees at their annual meetings. 

Overall, Facebook, YouTube and News Aggegators were applications of higher interest in the poll across all groups. Twitter was also of interest, primarily among students. Poll participants identifying themselves as “advanced” in their careers were more likely than others to identify Linkedin and podcasts as social media resources of interest.

Linking with peers was the most important use of social media for all poll participants. Career development and access to training resources were important for all students and for those early in their careers.  Also, about 40 percent of poll participants use social media for connecting with youth, parents and consumers.

The MCH Section is interested in hearing ideas from members about how to capitalize on social media strategies to engage young people in the excitement and potential of public health maternal and child health as a career path. For more information, contact Holly Grason at hgrason@hrsa.gov.