Philadelphia Consortium Projects

Maternal/Child & Women’s Health

Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health for the Families of Early Head Start at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Student Intern(s):
Victoria Hougham, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice
Caroline Kelly, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine

Academic Preceptor(s):
Jeffrey Draine, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice
Sara Kinsman, MD, MSCE, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine

Community Preceptor(s):
Laurie Grant, RN, EdM, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Early Head Start Program

The Community Site:
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Early Head Start (EHS) Program, located in West Philadelphia, promotes healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhances the development of very young children and promotes healthy family functioning. View Community Partner Web Site

Healthy People 2010:
Leading Health Indicators: Access to Health Care; Mental Health; Responsible Sexual Behavior
Focus Areas: Educational and Community-Based Programs; Family Planning; HIV; Maternal, Infant and Child Health; Sexually Transmitted Disease

The Project:
In its annual community assessment, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Early Head Start identified sexual health as a target area needing increased attention. To address this need, Victoria and Caroline facilitated an interactive workshop on reproductive health for enrolled parents and led a prenatal support group session focusing on safe sexual practices during and after pregnancy. The interns also organized a staff in-service training on supporting families affected by HIV, conducted a phone survey on breast-feeding practices with enrolled families, and led a fitness relay challenge for children during an agency socialization event. In addition, the interns visited mothers and their children in their homes, as well as children attending the Montgomery Early Learning Center, providing additional support to families with complex social and medical needs. Victoria reflected, “This summer has expanded my knowledge of community-based programs, and given me experience in developing culturally appropriate health interventions. I feel privileged to have had the experience of learning more about interdisciplinary work, and feel it will be critical to my future work in the field of health care.” Caroline noted, “Working with the staff and families has been a real privilege. Being invited into clients’ homes provides a unique perspective into the reality of people’s life circumstances. The staff is compassionate, supportive and very humorous. They have a great talent for delivering messages in a manner that is clear and meaningful to families. I foresee my experiences with Early Head Start shaping how I interact with clients throughout my career.”

Knowledge is Power: Empowering Mothers Through Health Education

Student Intern(s):
Mina Kim, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College
Victoria Mui, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College

Academic Preceptor(s):
Maria Hervada-Page, MSS, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College

Community Preceptor(s):
Julia Cannon, Maternity Care Coalition, South Philadelphia MOMobile

The Community Site:
The South Philadelphia MOMobile is a partnership involving the Maternity Care Coalition (MCC), the YMCA of Philadelphia and the Early Head Start Program. The goals of this partnership are to reduce infant mortality, improve maternal and child health, and support children’s optimal development. View Community Partner Web Site

Healthy People 2010:
Leading Health Indicators: Access to Health Care; Immunization; Overweight and Obesity
Focus Areas: Access to Quality Health Services; Educational and Community-Based Programs; Immunization and Infectious Diseases; Maternal, Infant and Child Health; Nutrition and Overweight

The Project:
Vicki and Mina assisted the MOMobile advocates in providing health education and emergency services to pregnant and postpartum mothers. The interns also conducted socialization groups with mothers and their children at a community center. They organized and facilitated a baby shower for prenatal and new mothers. In addition, they created and distributed informational brochures on the following topics: infant nutrition, infant development in the first year, fetal development and prenatal doctor visits. The interns also updated and condensed a community resource guide to make it more accessible to the advocates, and assessed the immunization records of home-based clients. Mina noted, “The MOMobile staff is truly dedicated to educating, assisting and advocating for pregnant women and new mothers in South Philadelphia … I have seen firsthand the results of their work — mothers who are more confident, capable, and optimistic, and with healthy children. I hope to model the advocates’ encouraging and supportive attitudes in my future work as a physician.” Victoria stated, “I experienced firsthand the difficulties and frustrations involved in attaining resources in Philadelphia and learned how to reach out to the community through health education and counseling.”

Promoting Infant Safe Sleep

Student Intern(s):
Vanessa Briggs, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Kelly Halle, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine

Academic Preceptor(s):
Joan I. Gluch, PhD, RDH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Ann L. O’Sullivan, PhD, FAAN, CPNP, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing;

Community Preceptor(s):
Julia Kristan, BA, Maternity Care Coalition, Cribs for Kids
Stephani Tyrance, MPH, Maternity Care Coalition, Cribs for Kids

The Community Site:
Cribs for Kids, a component program of the Maternity Care Coalition (MCC), provides needy families in Philadelphia with cribs and education on safe sleeping and how to reduce the risk of SIDS. View Community Partner Web Site

Healthy People 2010:
Leading Health Indicators: Access to Health Care; Environmental Quality; Injury and Violence
Focus Areas: Access to Quality Health Services; Educational and Community-Based Programs; Health Communication; Injury and Violence Prevention; Maternal, Infant and Child Health; Oral Health

The Project:
Working with the Cribs for Kids advocates, Vanessa and Kelly responded to hotline calls from caregivers requesting cribs. The interns provided telephone assessments, home visits to deliver cribs, and provided one-to-one safe sleep education, discussing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ways to identify and reduce risks, and ways to prevent infant death due to co-sleeping and suffocation. They also were involved with interactive safe-sleep education workshops held throughout the city. In addition, the interns completed a peripheral project of compiling one-page fact sheets to increase awareness of oral health during pregnancy and infancy. The areas of focus for the fact sheets were baby thrush, baby bottle tooth decay, periodontitis and the associated risks during pregnancy, going to the dentist while pregnant, and dental resources for patients with medical assistance. Vanessa said, “Very few health professionals have the opportunity to become well-rounded outside of school before they enter their career field, however, that is exactly the opportunity BTG has given me. I have learned more about health issues and needs in the community and how to provide important services to underserved populations in these seven weeks than I have in my previous two years of nursing school.” Kelly commented, “Over the course of the internship, I had the privilege of entering people’s homes and their lives on a very personal level, and on many occasions was fortunate enough to hear their stories … I would recommend BTG to any health-care professional that plans to work with a diverse population, an idea we should all embrace as we become a global society.”

Promoting Health and Literacy in Early Childhood

Student Intern(s):
Annie Funke, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice
Kate Ginty, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine
Daniel Tibbetts, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine

Academic Preceptor(s):
Jeffrey Draine, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice
Joan I. Gluch, PhD, RDH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Courtney Schreiber, MD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine

Community Preceptor(s):
Theresa McKelvy, RN, MS, Health Federation of Philadelphia, Early Head Start Program

The Community Site:
The Health Federation of Philadelphia’s Early Head Start (EHS), located in North Central Philadelphia, provides home-based services to 76 low-income infants/toddlers, pregnant women and their families.

Healthy People 2010:
Leading Health Indicators: Access to Health Care; Immunization; Responsible Sexual Behavior
Focus Areas: Access to Quality Health Services; Educational and Community-Based Programs; Health Communication; Maternal, Infant and Child Health; Oral Health

The Project:
Annie, Kate and Dan assisted Early Head Start (EHS) staff during scheduled programming of client socializations and home visits focusing on educating parents on safe sleep environments. The interns worked with EHS staff and parents to plan and implement a first-time “Family Literacy Camp,” a two-day event that encouraged family literacy. The camp included arts and crafts projects, peer led educational sessions, and family reading time. The intern team was responsible for developing a cataloging system for the EHS Lending Library that will be used by staff, children and families. In addition, Annie, Kate and Dan developed a “Prematurity Resource Guide,” a comprehensive reference guide to educate staff on the special needs of premature infants and their families. The guide includes information on commonly used terms, what to expect at different stages of prematurity and suggestions for caring for premature infants and their families. Interns also created resources to promote oral health in children and pregnant women. Kate noted, “At Early Head Start I learned more about the needs of low-income women and children. As a medical student, it was a great opportunity to observe firsthand how a comprehensive support system can improve health outcomes.” Annie reflected, “It was important for me to see an entire staff support women and their families; to acknowledge the challenges of parenthood; and to celebrate parent’s active involvement in their child’s growth. Overall, this internship has given me a better understanding of how to work with women and children in the future.” Dan stated, “Collaborating with students from other disciplines allowed me to view tasks and problems from different perspectives. Also, I was able to use my education to encourage oral health in all activities.”

Silent Evil, Lead Poisoning … It Does Affect Your Child

Student Intern(s):
Krystal Burwell, Temple University, College of Health Professions, Department of Nursing
Olawunmi Kilo, Temple University, School of Medicine

Academic Preceptor(s):
Nancy Rothman, EdD, RN, Temple University, College of Health Professions, Department of Nursing

Community Preceptor(s):
Eliza Johnson, BS, Temple University, College of Health Professions, Department of Nursing

The Community Site:
Temple Health Connection is a nurse-managed wellness center in North Philadelphia that provides health care, outreach and prevention programs for the North Philadelphia Community. View Community Partner Web Site

Healthy People 2010:
Leading Health Indicators: Access to Health Care; Environmental Quality; Immunization
Focus Areas: Access to Quality Health Services; Educational and Community-Based Programs; Environmental Health; Health Communication; Maternal, Infant and Child Health

The Project:
Ola and Krystal worked with the Temple Health Connection’s Lead Awareness Program staff to educate mothers on the negative effects of lead on children. The interns engaged expectant mothers and mothers with infants in individual discussions and provided information that could help prevent, and in some cases minimize, the exposure of their children to dangerous levels of lead, even before the child is born. In addition, the interns assisted with testing homes for lead and making arrangements for the removal of the sources of lead from the home by trained personnel. Ola and Krystal organized a Lead Awareness Week and distributed “Lead Safe Babies” DVDs, food charts, crayons and coloring books. Snacks that comprised the three nutrients that minimize the effect of lead in the child’s system were also distributed. Throughout all their activities, the interns emphasized the importance of testing children for lead at an early age. Krystal said, “Each day at the site I learned how to build upon my communication skills … I am thankful for this internship because it has helped me to learn the essence of “bridging the gap” among different health professionals and individuals in the community.” Ola noted, “I realize that the people in this community have a unique lifestyle, culture, and a very strong sense of community, but also have fears, concerns and stereotypes about health-care professionals … I learned how important trust was in effectively and positively bridging the gap between the community and health-care providers.“

"My internship … has affected me deeply. I have learned about the complexities of substance abuse and the struggles women face to remain clean. Working with a student from a discipline other than my own has helped me to view health issues from another perspective."

"The BTG Program provides needed resources to the many thousands of community-based organizations that are working to create a more socially just and compassionate world. Because of their support, many nonprofits are able to reach and enrich the lives of many more people."

BTG Community Preceptor