About RMPHEC
HISTORY
In Spring of 1997, the University of New Mexico (UNM) Master of Public Health (MPH) Program was jointly approached by the Region VI and Region VIII MCHB Consultants of the Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA), to collaborate and develop a regional MCH education training program. Both UNM faculty and HRSA representatives agreed that the need for such training was urgent.
A two-year grant was approved by the HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) for the UNM to hold a series of MCH public health leadership conferences for the Rocky Mountain/Southwest states. These conferences identified methods for increasing the practice of core public health functions and to test the need for a regional MCH public health education program.
The first conference was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in April 1998. A total of 91 MCH public health leaders and consumer representatives attended the meeting from 12 states, local communities, and Tribes (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, Navajo Nation, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming). The regional needs identified from six focus groups were the following:
1. A regional network for sharing.
2. Increased training and technical assistance at all levels.
3. Increased support for health systems development.
4. Increased consumer and community involvement in public health programs.
5. Strong desire for a regional public health leadership program.
6. Mandate to explore the use of technology to promote regional networking and education.
7. Mandate to explore the possibility of a regional university network to serve regional MCH public health education needs of the states.
An additional assessment of the regional needs was undertaken in 1998 as part of the HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) grant. Results from this assessment indicated that there was a need for professional education at all levels, including undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education (CE) opportunities.
Over half of the respondents believed there were insufficient program offerings. There was a desire to focus on both technical skills/training and public health concepts (~70% respondents). The nine topics most frequently identified as needed for CE offerings were 1) program evaluation; 2) social marketing; 3) needs assessment; 4) data collection; 5) statistical analysis; 6) legislative advocacy; 7) health outcomes analysis; 8) community organization; and, 9) leadership development.
To address the public health problems and workforce development challenges identified in the needs assessments, the Rocky Mountain Public Health Education Consortium (RMPHEC) was formed in 1998.