Center for Public Health Sciences. MPH Practicum and Capstone HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 Center for Public Health Sciences MPH Practicum and Capstone HANDBOOK June

2 Table of Contents Section Pages Overview of the MPH Practicum..1-2 Practicum Requirements 2-3 Practicum Goals & Learning Objectives Developing a Practicum Project Responsibilities of the Practicum Sponsoring Organization.6 Responsibilities of the Student..7 Responsibilities of the Practicum/Capstone Faculty Advisor Evaluation of the Practicum Experience.8 Capstone Project & Capstone Seminar (PUB 9100 & 9200) Practicum & Capstone Timeline Practicum Checklist 12 Some useful tips about the practicum...13 Appendices Appendix A Practicum Survey Appendix B Guidelines for Developing the Practicum Work Scope Appendix C Guidelines for Developing the Memorandum of Understanding Appendix D Guidelines for IRB Review Appendix E Practicum Log Appendix F Format for Progress Reports Appendix G Student Self-Evaluation of Practicum

3 Overview of the MPH Practicum Purpose of the Practicum A supervised internship (practicum) is a required core component of the MPH curriculum. The practicum provides the opportunity to apply knowledge and methods learned in the classroom to real world settings and to develop professional skills. In order to provide students with a meaningful community-based research experience, the CPHS practicum incorporates a service learning approach involving a partnership between the student, community organization, and designated faculty and research team members. The goals of the practicum are to: Enable students to synthesize and integrate an area of substantive expertise. Help the student develop specific competencies. Apply this learning to distinct practicum projects that focus on student interests and practicum agency needs. Provide sponsor agencies with valuable materials, services, analyses, and/or research that relate directly to the ongoing activities and mission of the agency, and that meet the public health needs of the surrounding community. Organization of the Practicum Practicum opportunities will be developed by community organizations in consultation with MPH faculty and other Einstein research faculty/staff. In most cases, the organizations involved will have an existing relationship with specific faculty members. Students will be placed in the community organizations based on student interests and the needs of the sponsoring organization. Students will have a community preceptor at the agency and a faculty advisor to provide technical guidance. In order to promote continuity of academic partner support and commitment to the community organization, every effort will be made to develop ongoing practicum relationships with specific agencies. Types of Practicum Projects A wide variety of projects are appropriate but all must have a public health orientation and include an applied research component. To maximize the educational experience, student work should involve something that has a clear beginning and end, either as a self-contained project or a component of a larger project, e.g., a needs assessment, a grant proposal, a program evaluation. While the work can involve such activities as helping develop a logic model, conducting a literature review, or collecting data, the practicum should not be limited to such a narrow scope. In addition, students should be exposed to a wide range of activities related to community-based research and community workplace settings, e.g., attending staff meetings, helping conduct community meetings, communicating with stakeholders. 1

4 The practicum is tailored to meet the interests and needs of individual students. The following are examples of the types of activities and projects that students may engage in as part of the practicum: Help develop and conduct a community health assessment Help develop an evidence-based community health promotion program Assist the agency with data collection Assist the agency with analysis of data Assist with the evaluation of a public health program Help organize community participation in a public health program Develop a grant proposal for a public health program Practicum Requirements There are three main components of the practical experience that fulfill MPH degree requirements: Completion of 240 hours of an approved supervised practicum. Completion of two semesters of a Capstone Seminar (PUB 9100 & 9200), which consists of reflecting on the educational and practicum experiences and developing a culminating capstone project. The capstone project is a major written project prepared by the student usually based on the practicum. Presentation of the capstone project as a demonstration of the student s ability to integrate competencies across the curriculum. The following are general guidelines for the practicum: 1. Each student must complete a total of 240 hours of fieldwork. 2. The practicum must have a public health orientation clinical activities or direct client services are not acceptable. 3. If a student wants to do the practicum at her/his workplace, the internship project cannot be part of the student s regular job responsibilities. 4. The practicum must be supervised by an onsite preceptor who must be a qualified professional with expertise/experience in public health and with expertise in the 5. area of the student s specific practicum project. This requirement can be fulfilled with multiple preceptors if necessary. 2

5 6. Before the student begins the practicum, a written scope of work must be approved by the MPH program director and a memorandum of understanding signed by the student, preceptor, and faculty advisor should be submitted. 7. Full time students will complete the practicum over the fall and spring semesters. Part time students should plan on beginning their practicum in their first spring semester or second fall semester; it will take about 3 semesters (including summer) to complete the practicum. See the MPH course plan for the recommended timing of the practicum, capstone seminar, and capstone projects. Practicum Goals & Learning Objectives The general goal of the practicum is to strengthen the understanding, knowledge, critical analysis, and professional skills needed to address a particular area of public health as well as develop the student s general professional skills and abilities. These are achieved by familiarizing the student with: The practice of public health in order to help the student identify with the profession. Organizational and administrative dimensions of public health. Activities involving a specialty area of public health. Professional behavior and expectations. General skills and competencies to be developed in the practicum include: An ability to apply knowledge gleaned from public health courses. An ability to find and use appropriate professional practice information from the public health and scientific literatures and other public health sources. An ability to formulate or design a system, process, or program to meet identified public health needs. An ability to identify and solve public health problems. An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams. An ability to reflect on the practicum experience. The practicum experience helps prepare the student for achieving these goals and developing these competencies by offering the student the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills through field work that provides: Experience in working with and without supervision at the assigned organization. Exploration of the general operations of the agency or organization. Examination of the agency or organization s responsibilities and constraints. 3

6 Attendance at staff, board, and community meetings. Working with a variety of professionals, staff, and community members. Involvement in a range of program activities planning, implementation, and evaluation. Involvement in research investigations of public health problems and programs. At the end of the practicum, students should be able to: Apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real-world settings. Identify, assess, and/or address specific public health issues. Help conduct applied public health research in non-academic settings. Collect and analyze information about public health issues. Develop an understanding of applicable practices in the work setting. As part of the practicum work scope, students develop specific learning objectives for their practicum and identify the specific program competencies that will be addressed, based on the activities that the student will be working on for the practicum. Developing a Practicum Project The following outlines the main steps involved in selecting and finalizing the practicum placement and project. It can take several months for a practicum project to be developed and approved; students should take this into account in their practicum planning. 1. Selecting the Practicum Location a. Students complete the Practicum Survey (Appendix A) and meet with the MPH Program Director to discuss their interests and goals for the practicum. b. The MPH Program Director will inform students about various practicum opportunities that are available. Students should contact the Program Director regarding their interest in any of the identified practicum sites. The Program Director will then match students and sites based on student interests and background and needs of the practicum site. Students may also initiate appropriate practicum projects, with guidance and final approval from the Program Director. c. After obtaining approval by the Program Director, students contact the agency they are interested in working at to set up a meeting to discuss the possibility of a practicum placement and to generate ideas for the specific practicum project. Students are advised to provide the agency with their CV/resume and to treat the agency meeting as a job interview. 4

7 d. Students inform the Program Director via of the outcome of the agency meeting and obtain approval for proceeding with the practicum at that site. e. Full time students should begin consulting in June with the Program Director regarding potential practicum sites. 2. Selecting the Practicum Project a. Students meet with the preceptor to discuss potential practicum projects. b. Students meet with the Program Director to obtain feedback on these ideas for the practicum project. Keep in mind that it may require a few rounds of discussions to develop an acceptable and feasible practicum project. c. The Program Director will suggest a practicum faculty advisor and the student should contact the advisor to confirm. Students may also suggest a potential faculty advisor. 3. Developing the Work Scope a. After obtaining initial approval from the Program Director for the practicum project, the student drafts a practicum work scope, with input from the practicum preceptor and faculty advisor(see Appendix B for guidelines for developing the work scope). The draft is submitted it to the Program Director for approval. Students should be prepared to develop several drafts of the work scope before final approval is given. Students are urged to set aside time for the process of developing the work scope in order to expedite initiation of the practicum. b. Students work with the practicum preceptor to establish the details of when the practicum begins and ends and the weekly work schedule. 4. IRB Issues a. Most practicum projects will require an application to the Einstein IRB. In preparation for the IRB application, all students should take the online CITI training in protection of human subjects and attend a PATS training session for submission of protocols to the Einstein IRB. Full time students should complete CITI certification and PATS training by the end of their first summer semester. Part time students should do so by the middle of their first fall semester. b. Students are responsible for assuring that the practicum project is reviewed by the Einstein IRB. Not all projects will require IRB approval but students must follow established procedures for IRB determination of a project s status (see Appendix D for guidelines). Students should get feedback on their application from their practicum 5

8 advisor before final submission. The final IRB application requires the signature of the Program Director and CPHS Director. Students should provide a hard copy of the entire signed IRB packet to the MPH office. 5. Finalizing the Practicum After the work scope is approved by the Program Director, students develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the practicum (see Appendix C for guidelines). The MOU is to be signed by the student, preceptor, and faculty advisor and submitted to the Program Director BEFORE work on the practicum begins. Responsibilities of the Practicum Sponsoring Organization Participating agencies and organizations agree to provide the student with a suitable practicum experience and assist in the professional development of that student. The agency identifies an appropriate preceptor who has public health experience and expertise in the area of the student s practicum work. The agency is responsible for providing all materials, space, and equipment needed to perform the work. Every effort should be made to integrate students into the agency. Students are not expected to be paid although some agencies may do so. The preceptor is key to a successful practicum and serves as both supervisor and mentor. Preceptors are expected to provide students with an orientation to the organization and work, meet with students regularly, and provide guidance and feedback. Preceptors sign a written agreement specifying the expectations for the student s work and complete an evaluation of the student s performance at the end of the practicum. The preceptor s role includes: Assist the student in determining specific, mutually agreeable, written practicum objectives and deliverables to the agency. Orient the student to the organization s mission, programs, policies, protocols. Commit time for instructional interaction and dialogue with the student. Provide supervision of the student s activities If necessary, resolve conflicts with agency or organization policy. Conduct a mid-course discussion with the student to provide feedback on the student s work and performance. Submit a final evaluation of the student to the MPH Program Director. Share any relevant comments and/or suggestions with the MPH Program Director. 6

9 Responsibilities of the Student Students are required to complete a total of 240 hours of fieldwork. Students are responsible for developing a practicum scope of work in consultation with their preceptor and the practicum faculty advisor. Students will meet regularly with the preceptor to discuss progress and raise any questions or problems regarding the work. Students are expected to treat the practicum as a job and meet all commitments to the agency. Following the practicum, students prepare a written capstone project based on the practicum project that is used to fulfill academic requirements of the MPH program. Students are expected to share this written project with their preceptors. Student responsibilities for the practicum include: Following the policies, rules, and regulations of the field agency or organization. Maintaining the agreed upon working hours. Maintaining a professional attitude and conduct. Seeking and accepting the field supervisor s guidance and appraisal of performance throughout the field practice period. Sharing with the field supervisor any questions and concerns regarding the progress of the field work. Planning for conferences with the field supervisor. Attending requested meetings and workshops. Maintaining a weekly log. Submitting to the host agency all agreed upon deliverables within the time frames indicated by the preceptor. Submitting an evaluation of the practicum to the Program Director. Providing the host agency with a copy of the student s final capstone project. Responsibilities of the Practicum/Capstone Faculty Advisor Each student is assigned a faculty advisor for the practicum and capstone project. The community agency preceptor is responsible for overall direction and supervision of the student s practicum project. The practicum/capstone faculty advisor provides technical expertise related to the student s practicum project and serves as mentor and reader for the student s capstone project. The program s Practicum-Capstone Committee will assist in identifying faculty advisors for each student. Specific responsibilities of the practicum/capstone faculty advisor include: 7

10 Assist the student in preparing a practicum work scope, along with input from the community preceptor and the MPH program director. Provide methodological and/or content-based guidance to the student regarding the practicum project and capstone project. Provide guidance to the student in preparing an Einstein IRB application for the practicum. If appropriate, guide the student in resolving work-related problems at the agency. Regularly meet/communicate with the student regarding the practicum project. Communicate with the community preceptor on an as needed basis. Guide the student in developing a capstone project topic. Provide ongoing guidance and feedback to the student as the student works on the capstone project. Provide written feedback to the student on capstone project drafts. Assess the capstone project in terms of demonstration of program competencies. Grade the capstone project (honors/pass/fail). Evaluation of the Practicum Experience Assessment of the practicum is an essential component of the learning experience. The assessment process is ongoing throughout the duration of the practicum in order to identify and address problems at an early stage and to assist the student in reflecting on the experience. The main components of the practicum evaluation are: 1. Completion of weekly logs (see Appendix E) 2. Progress reports sent to Program Director every month (see Appendix F) 3. Mid-course assessment session with preceptor 4. Student self-assessment at end of practicum (see Appendix G) 5. Preceptor assessment of student at end of practicum Items 1,2,4, and 5 are written evaluations, using structured formats. Weekly logs should be shared with the practicum advisor to get feedback. Progress reports are due to the Program Director each month. The mid-course assessment is an open-ended meeting between the student and preceptor to provide the student with constructive feedback regarding his/her performance. The student should take the initiative in scheduling this meeting at about the halfway point of the practicum. The self-assessment is due within 2 weeks of completing the practicum. 8

11 Capstone Project & Capstone Seminar (PUB 9100 & 9200) Overview The capstone project is an essential element of all MPH programs. It represents students synthesis of and reflection on knowledge acquired in coursework, the practicum, and other learning experiences and the application of theory, principles, and methods to a situation that approximates some aspect of professional practice. Options for Capstone Projects The capstone project is a written document, usually based on the student s practicum project. For example, it may be an integrated presentation of practicum deliverables and relevant background analyses (e.g., a full literature review and detailed methods section leading up to the development of a survey). Students can choose from the following formats for the capstone project. Students should take into account the length of time necessary to complete the project and the availability of an appropriate faculty advisor when deciding on the format. 1. Summary report written for the practicum agency 2. Public health practice reflection paper 3. Grant proposal 4. Original research project 5. Article ready for submission to a journal Format for Capstone Projects All capstone projects must include all of the following elements. The order of and emphasis given to these elements may vary depending on the type of project. There is no minimum number of pages, but most capstone projects will be pages. 1. Executive summary or abstract (one page) 2. Statement of purpose (e.g., objectives; specific aims) 3. Assessment of organizational and community context for the practicum/capstone project. E.g., the history of how the organization has addressed the identified issue/needs and how this influenced current approach; factors influencing the agency s ability to address the issue; how the agency context influenced implementation of the practicum project; relevant community/public health needs; the policy context influencing the work. Include a brief description of methods used for the assessment. Note: if it is not possible to do this as part of the practicum, identify relevant assessment questions and methods for obtaining information needed to answer the questions. 9

12 4. Review of relevant literature (including gray literature if relevant) and how it informs the work 5. Methods employed/to be employed 6. Results/findings/outcomes 7. Limitations of the work 8. Ethical and cultural dimensions of the work 9. Public health significance of the capstone project 10. Recommendations for future practice and/or research, employing an ecological perspective 11. Critical reflection Discuss how the capstone project synthesizes and applies: public health theory and methods from courses; public health practice; and community collaboration. Include a critical assessment of how well the practicum/capstone project addresses identified agency and community and public health needs. 12. References cited 13. Appendices The Capstone Seminar The Capstone Seminar (PUB 9100 and PUB 9200) is a two semester course taken in the fall and spring semesters following completion of the practicum. The Capstone Seminar helps students reflect on and analyze the practicum experience. The seminar provides a supportive setting for helping students develop ideas for their capstone project and for obtaining constructive feedback as they work on the project. The seminar also serves as a group forum for promoting the synthesis and integration of theoretical, applied, and practice-based knowledge learned in the program and for developing professional skills. Developing & Writing the Capstone Project Students develop the capstone project under the guidance of a faculty advisor, who is usually the practicum advisor. Students work with their capstone advisor to develop a specific project that will provide a meaningful integrative learning experience. Students are responsible for finding an appropriate faculty advisor for the capstone project. Full time Einstein and Ferkauf faculty are eligible to serve as faculty advisors. Students develop the capstone project topic during the first semester of the Capstone Seminar (PUB 9100). Full time students will develop the capstone project topic while they are still in the 10

13 early stages of their practicum. Part time students should either have finished their practicum or be in the final weeks before enrolling in the Capstone Seminar. Successful completion of PUB 9100 requires development of a detailed outline for the capstone project, approved by the MPH Program Director and capstone faculty advisor. Students should communicate regularly with their capstone advisor as they work on the project, obtaining advice and feedback as the capstone project progresses. The second semester of the Capstone Seminar (PUB 9200) is devoted to providing feedback and support to students as they work on their capstone projects. Successful completion of PUB 9200 requires: 1) completion of the capstone project and a grade (honors/pass/fail) submitted by the capstone faculty advisor; 2) an oral presentation of the capstone project to faculty and other students in a group session. Preceptors are invited to attend the capstone project presentations. Practicum & Capstone Timeline Full time students Summer 1 Complete practicum assessment Select practicum placement& begin developing work scope Fall 1 Finalize work scope& develop MOU Deadline for approved work scope: September 15 Begin practicum in Sep. or Oct. (plan on hours per week over 4-5 months) Enroll in PUB 9100Capstone Seminar - develop detailed outline for capstone project Deadline for approved capstone project topic end of fall semester Spring 1 Complete practicum (plan on finishing no later than end of February) Enroll in PUB 9200 Capstone Seminar - work on capstone project Summer 2 Complete capstone project; capstone presentation Deadline for submitting final capstone project: August 15 Part time students (2-year plan) Year 1 Summer Complete practicum assessment Year 1 Fall Explore practicum placement Year 1 January 11

14 Finalize practicum placement; begin developing work scope Year 1 Spring Finalize work scope & develop MOU Begin practicum (plan on 7 hours per week over 9 months: Feb-Oct or Mar-Nov) Deadline for approved work scope: March 1 Year 2 Summer Continue practicum Year 2 Fall Complete practicum by end of November Enroll in PUB 9100 Capstone Seminar- develop detailed outline for capstone project Deadline for approved capstone project topic end of fall semester Year 2 Spring Enroll in PUB 9200 Capstone Seminar Complete capstone project; capstone presentation. Deadline for submitting final capstone project: last day of classes Practicum Checklist 1. Practicum survey - at least one semester before planning to start the practicum 2. Work scope must be approved before starting practicum 3. Signed Memorandum of Understanding before starting practicum 4. IRB application and decision before working with participants or data 5. Weekly logs review with practicum advisor 6. Monthly progress reports submit to Program Director each month 7. Mid-course assessment session with preceptor 8. Self-assessment due within 2 weeks of finishing practicum 12

15 Some useful tips about the practicum: Don t expect everything to be prepared and ready for you when you arrive on the first day, or even for the first week. The road may be bumpy at first, but exercise patience and observe/evaluate the situation in the meantime. Set up a system for staying abreast of project developments since you re not at the agency every day. Use your initiative. For instance, if a schedule is not prepared, or no clear guidance is provided, prepare a schedule based on the approved scope of work and politely and professionally discuss it with the preceptor. If you will be involved with a literature search, make a note of all the search terms that were used to retrieve the relevant data, because that information will be needed when it s time to document the findings/final report. Making daily notes will definitely make it easier to do the weekly logs. Always have writing equipment handy. Make the best of the practicum opportunity and put yourself in the position to explore and/or grasp new ideas. For instance, to get a better understanding of the community you are assigned to work with, physically visit the neighborhood on more than one occasion and observe the characteristics of the area. Offer to share ideas that may be relevant to the project that you re working on. Be alert and observant, particularly if the environment is entirely new. Show willingness if asked to do something that is outside of the scope of work. Consider organizing your suggestions to the agency into a concept paper to present the overall idea and background ; if asked to organize a meeting, develop a written agenda and conduct follow up to sustain relationships; defining stakeholders clearly helps minimize time wasted going to the wrong people; prioritize activities from most important to things that can wait. 13

16 LIST OF APPENDICES A B C D E F G Practicum Survey Guidelines for Developing the Practicum Work Scope Guidelines for Developing the Memorandum of Understanding Guidelines for IRB Review Practicum Log Format for Progress Reports Student Self-evaluation of Practicum

17 Center for Public Health Sciences Appendix A Student Practicum Survey 1. Date 2. Name 3. address 4. Please rank the general skills you are interested in developing and enhancing through the practicum (select up to 3 areas): Program planning Grant writing Needs assessment Intervention development Program evaluation Data collection methods Developing data collection instruments Data analysis Policy research/analysis Other (specify): 5. What type of organization would you like to work in for the practicum? Health Department Other government agency Community-health center Other health care facility School Community-based organization Other non-profit organization Labor union Other (specify): No preference 1

18 6. Check your top 5 areas of interestfor the practicum: Adolescent health Teen pregnancy prevention Maternal & infant health Child health Women s health Sexual health Chronic diseases, general HIV/AIDS Diabetes Cancer prevention & control Obesity Alcohol, tobacco, other drugs Aging School health Food and nutrition Physical activity Mental health Global health Health literacy Public health policy Other (specify): 7. Educational background: Degrees Earned (major/concentration) Date 8. Relevant professional experience. Include your current position in the first row. Employer (organization/dept.) Length of Employment Job title Job responsibilities 9. Please identify any relevant skills or experience: 10. Please identify any preferences you may have regarding the practicum, including possible sites. Please identify any constraints that you have (e.g., hours/days available, location, etc.): 2

19 Center for Public Health Sciences Appendix B Student Instructions for Preparing the Public Health Practicum Scope of Work Every student must have an approved scope of work before starting the practicum. The scope of work is developed with input from the practicum preceptor and faculty advisor and then submitted to the Program Director for approval. Students should be prepared to develop several drafts of the work scope before final approval is given. Keep in mind that it may take a few months to work out the details of the practicum and finalize the work scope. Prepare a document based on items A-C below. Include ALL of the following information, using the numbering & headings indicated. The scope of work should be approximately 3 pages in length. Please use the outline numbering provided below. A. Information: 1. Student name 2. Practicum title (provide a brief descriptive title for your practicum project. This is not the title of the larger project you may be working on) 3. Preceptor s name, degree(s), title/position 4. Preceptor s address & phone number: 5. Organization/program name 6. Faculty practicum advisor & address B. Description of Practicum: 1. Background/context (e.g., the larger project to which the practicum will contribute). You do not need to provide a discussion of the public health significance of the issue to be addressed. Focus on the project and practicum work. 2. Summary of proposed practicum, including the value of the work to the host organization. 3. Learning objectives for the practicum (i.e., the specific skills you want to learn and develop from the practicum. See below for examples). 4. Scope of your responsibilities (i.e., the specific activities you will engage in for the practicum). If you are conducting your practicum at your present workplace, specify how the practicum will differ from your current responsibilities. 1

20 5. Specific deliverables expected at the close of the practicum (to be developed in consultation with the preceptor. See below for examples). 6. Highly recommended: A timeline for completing each deliverable and other practicum work. 7. Identify if the practicum involves research with human subjects. If your practicum involves a research project with human subjects, you may have to submit an application to the organization s IRB. If your work is included under an approved IRB protocol, identify the name of the IRB that has approved the project. Additionally, you may have to submit an application to the Einstein IRB. The Einstein IRB requires all applicants to have CITI certification and to train in PATS. Go to the Einstein CCI/IRB webpage for further details: Please factor all of these activities into your timetable. 8. All locations where work will be conducted. 9. Number hours/week; total # weeks; total # hours; start and end dates. C. MPH Program Competences to be Addressed in Practicum (Cut and paste into your work scope the specific competencies that you hope to develop in your practicum, based on the specific activities you will be working on). Identify appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methodologies for answering particular public health research questions. Interpret results of statistical analyses found in public health studies. Appraise the epidemiological literature. Identify key sources of data for epidemiologic purposes. Draw appropriate inferences from epidemiologic data. Identify the role of social and behavioral factors in influencing the health of individuals and populations. Identify basic theories, concepts, and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines that are used in public health research and practice. Describe how ecological approaches can be used to examine public health problems and develop solutions. Identify the main components of health services and public health systems in the US and globally. Describe how policy can be used to improve the health of populations and communities. Describe federal and state regulatory programs, guidelines and authorities that control environmental health issues. Describe the interaction of genetic, physiologic, psychosocial factors with the social and physical environment in influencing population health. Explain population-based models of health promotion and disease prevention. Apply theories and concepts from the social and behavioral sciences to examine and address public health issues. Identify strategies for community level change. 2

21 Identify relevant concepts and theories from social/behavioral sciences that can be applied to the design of research and intervention studies to address specific public health issues. Critically appraise the strengths and limitations of various research and evaluation designs for answering specific public health questions. Identify appropriate methods for analyzing data from specific study designs. Develop a research plan for conducting an applied public health study. Identify principles and approaches for ethical conduct in collaborative public health research. Describe approaches for applying research and evaluation methods and findings to program development. All practica are expected to encompass the following competencies: (cut and paste into your work scope all of the following) Demonstrate written and oral skills to communicate interdisciplinary public health information to various audiences. Demonstrate team building and group facilitation skills. Apply community-based participatory principles to research and evaluation conducted in collaboration with community stakeholders. Identify approaches to dealing with the challenges of community-engaged research. Demonstrate cultural competency by interacting sensitively and effectively with persons from diverse backgrounds. Examples of Learning Objectives for the Practicum: (Note: Learning objectives should be related to the specific competencies to be developed) Identify and apply methods for conducting a needs assessment Analyze Community Health Data Conduct a literature review Develop a questionnaire Develop a focus group guide Analyze data from a focus group Develop a program logic model Develop an evaluation plan Develop a small database Examples of Deliverables for the Practicum: (Note: Deliverables should be determined in collaboration with the practicum preceptor) A detailed plan for a community needs assessment Specified sections of a needs assessment report A detailed program evaluation plan A literature review for a grant proposal A 5-page grant proposal A report summarizing findings from agency data on A report discussing [health issue] in targeted Bronx neighborhoods A report based on focus groups conducted A survey questionnaire 3

22 Center for Public Health Sciences Appendix C Guidelines for Developing the Practicum Memorandum of Understanding After the student s Practicum Scope of Work is approved by the MPH Program Director, students should prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed by the student, practicum preceptor(s), and faculty practicum advisor. Include the information specified below. The signed Memorandum of Understanding should be submitted along with the final Scope of Work to the MPH Program Director for final approval PRIOR to the start of the practicum. Information to be included in the Practicum Memorandum of Understanding: Date Name of student and his/her practicum project title A statement that the preceptor has seen the student s Scope of Work and agrees to it Specific deliverables expected at the close of the project (these should be the same as indicated on the Scope of Work) Project start and end dates Average number of hours per week and total number of hours to be worked (the total should equal at least 240 hours) Process for orientation, monitoring, and evaluation of the student by the preceptor (and other personnel, if applicable) Provisions for office space, computer, communications, and other necessary equipment Preceptor name, title, and signature Student name and signature Faculty practicum advisor name and signature

23 Center for Public Health Sciences Appendix D Protection of Human Subjects & IRB Guidelines for the MPH Practicum Overview As part of their practicum, many students work on projects involving research with human participants/subjects (e.g., interviews, focus groups, analysis of previously collected data). The MPH program follows human subjects policies and guidelines as established by the Einstein Insitutional Review Board (IRB, formerly known as the CCI).If your practicum involves a research project with human participants, you must obtain approval from the Einstein IRB prior to starting the research. Students are responsible for assuring that the practicum project is reviewed by the Einstein IRB. Not all projects will require IRB approval but students must follow established procedures for IRB determination of a project s status. Please be sure to factor the IRB process into your practicum and capstone timetable. Pleaserefer to the Einstein IRB website for an overview of the process: The Einstein IRB Review Process 1. CITI Certification All MPH students are required to complete the web-based Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) and pass the examinations given at the end of each of the modules of the online course. CITI is a standard human subjects research educational program used by many institutions. MPH students most likely will complete the Social and Behavioral Research course. Certification that you have passed the CITI exam is a requirement for submitting a research protocol to the Einstein IRB. Students are advised to complete the course by the end of their first fall semester in the MPH program. Students who have up to date CITI certification do not need to retake the course. CITI training can be accessed through the Einstein IRB website: 2. PATS Training PATS (Protocol Application and Tracking System) is the online system used for submitting applications to the Einstein IRB. All students must attend a scheduled PATS training session in order to submit an application to the Einstein IRB. Trainings are held several times a month. Please refer to the Einstein IRB website for the training schedule: 1

24 Before students can use PATS, they must be identified in the system as a delegate to a faculty member (students with faculty appointments do not need to go through this step). Students should contact the MPH program director after completing the PATS training and the program director will enter them into the system as delegates. Since Einstein Policy requires that the local PI have a YU faculty appointment, the MPH program director will serve as PI in PATS for all externally conducted practicum projects. 3. Determining if Your Project Requires an IRB Submission After you have confirmed your practicum project (i.e., received approval for your scope of work), you need to determine if your proposed project involves human subjects research and requires approval of the research protocol by the Einstein IRB. Some types of research do not require a human subjects protection protocol and IRB review process. In general, the following categories of research are used by the IRB: Exempt research Expedited research Research requiring full Committee review Please see the Einstein IRB website for definitions of the above categories (under Policies and Procedures/ Categories of Research). IMPORTANT: Please note that the IRB determines under which category of research a project belongs. You can propose to the IRB that your research is exempt or qualifies for an expedited review but you cannot make the final decision about your project s research category. If you have questions about what type of review is appropriate for your proposed research project, David Wallach, the Einstein IRB Manager David.Wallach@Einstein.yu.edu, with a brief description of your project. He will advise students on how to proceed with their application. Your should include a brief description of the project and its purpose; the name of the sponsor agency and location of the research; a brief description of the sample involved, including whether participants under age 18 are involved; how the data were obtained or will be obtained; and whether IRB approval for the project has been granted by another institution or is in process, and the name of the institutional IRB involved (e.g., NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene); The MPH Program Director and the student s practicum faculty advisor should be cc d on all communications with the Einstein IRB. If you are advised that you must submit a protocol to the Einstein IRB, you should prepare an application and submit it according to the established procedures (See Einstein IRB website). 4. Submitting a Protocol to the IRB 2

25 The Einstein IRB website and PATS have detailed information on how to submit a protocol. In general, you will have to provide a detailed description of your research protocol and informed consent procedures. You should ask your practicum advisor to review your protocol description prior to final submission. When you are preparing to submit your application, contact Dr. Cheryl Merzel, MPH Program Director, who will initiate an application in PATS for you (only faculty can initiate an IRB application and serve as Principal Investigator). She will then notify you that the application has been initiated and you can then go in and complete the application process. You should get feedback on your IRB application from your practicum advisor before final submission. See below for the IRB Protocol Submission Checklist, which outlines the steps involved in submitting a protocol. All submissions must be signed by Dr. Paul Marantz, the Director of the Center for Public Health Sciences and Dr. Cheryl Merzel, Program Director who serves as Principal Investigator for student practicum projects. Provide a hard copy of your application along with the signature form to Dr. Merzel. You will be informed when the signed form is ready for you to pick up and submit to the IRB. Please allow 4-6 weeks for a response from the Einstein IRB after submitting your protocol. Factor this into your timetable for your practicum work. 5. Beginning Your Research You must wait until you have approval from the IRB before starting the research. You can begin certain non-human subjects related aspects of the work before then, e.g., conducting a literature review. 6. Closing Out the Study Students are responsible for submitting required annual and final progress reports to the Einstein IRB. These will require signatures from the Program Director. 3

26 Protocol Submission Checklist Complete Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) at See for more information. Write the protocol. See the following two links for guidance: Research Protocol Design Criteria Outline of the required elements of research protocol design. Protocol Element Checklist - To be used as a checklist guide in the review of your protocol, prior to submission to the Committee on Clinical Investigations. This document will assist the investigator in ensuring that all of the research protocol design criteria are met. Attend a PATS Training. See the schedule, registration, and more information at Determine review type. See the following links for guidance: Exempt Research Expedited Research Full Review Complete Application Exempt Application: See the Exempt Research categories at Chart Review/Database Study Application: Study Examples: Medical Records review, Hospital Databases, Public Database, Data Analysis, etc. Behavioral/Observational Study Application: Study Examples: School based research, or research using Focus Groups or questionnaires, etc. Specimen Study Application: No direct research intervention by PI. Study Examples: research on leftover specimens, identifiable previously collected specimens, prospective specimens, etc. Clinical Research Study Application: Direct research intervention by PI. Study Examples: blood drawing, MRI s, radioisotopes, drugs, or devices, etc. Prepare recruitment tools/methods. These may include consent/assent forms, waivers of consent of written documentation of consent, Dear Parent/Participant letters, advertisements, etc. Submit the materials for review. See for submission requirement details. Einstein IRB Process Audit Review (including Internet security verification as applicable) Approval Receive approval letter research may begin. Ongoing Monitoring: Amendments Any changes to your protocol must be submitted to the Einstein IRB for review and approval. Progress Reports Annual updates regarding the status of the protocol are required for Full and Expedited Review protocols. Research Records The regulations require that research records must be maintained by the Investigator and stored for specific amounts of time. 4

27 Center for Public Health Sciences Appendix E MPH Program Practicum Log PRACTICUM LOG # (to be completed weekly& shared with practicum advisor) Student name: 1. Date of report: 2. Dates of activity included in report: 3. Hours completed this reporting period: 4. Cumulative hours completed to date: 5. Date(s) met with preceptor: 6. Assignments for this reporting period: 7. Description of activities performed during reporting period: 8. Meetings, conferences, trainings, etc. attended during reporting period: 9. Significant events, problems, resolution of problems: 10. New skills employed: 11. Development of research competencies (reflect on your progress in developing the research competencies you selected in your work scope): 12. Development of practice competencies (reflect on your progress in developing the practice competencies identified in the work scope): 13. Lessons (e.g., what insights did you gain from meetings? What have you learned about your skills and abilities? What have you learned about how organizations operate? What are important management skills you ve observed? What have you learned about overcoming stereotypes or misconceptions when working in new settings with diverse groups? What have you learned about working in community settings?):

28 Center for Public Health Sciences Appendix F Format for Monthly Practicum Progress Reports Students are required to submit a brief practicum progress report to the MPH Program Director and their Practicum/Capstone Faculty Advisor once a month. The information to be included can be drawn primarily from the weekly logs. The progress report should be ed as a Word attachment. IMPORTANT: Use the following format for naming your file: Name Month Year Practicum Progress Report.doc Students are encouraged to meet with the Program Director at any point if there are issues that the student feels he/she cannot resolve independently. The following items should be included in the progress report: 1. Name 2. Date of report 3. Reporting period 4. Cumulative hours completed to date 5. Major activities performed during the reporting period 6. Significant events, problems, &resolution during the reporting period 7. Significant lessons during the reporting period regarding: a. Development of specific competencies b. Understanding of how organizations operate c. Understanding of working in community settings

29 Center for Public Health Sciences Appendix G 1

30 2

31 3

32 4

33 5