The Health Resources and Services Administration is accepting proposals for the Maternal and Child Health Measurement Research Network (MCH-MRN) program.
The purpose of the Maternal and Child Health Measurement Research Network (MCH-MRN) is to support a forum that will create a national agenda for health measurement research by producing an evolving compendium of available high quality measures of maternal and child health, and by identifying gaps in existing measures for future development purposes.
The awardee will complete the following major activities:
- Infrastructure Development: Develop and maintain an interdisciplinary national network (hereafter referred to as “the Network”) of research entities;
- Identify gaps, develop and/or update a translational research agenda for scientific studies building upon advances in research as a result of activities described in the incumbent’s research agenda;
- Demonstrate the engagement of members in at least 4 disciplines to effectively leverage the network infrastructure and build the capacity to have a greater collective impact;
- Communications: Develop a schedule of on-going communication among Network members and with the HRSA/MCHB Project Officer; Network Activities: Foster collaboration among network members through ongoing interaction, sharing of information and tools, and development and implementation of research studies;
- Institute monthly meetings among network members and/or advisory groups;
- Set national priorities for health measurement research in MCH populations;
- Collaborate with other federal investments in measurement research;
- Conduct environmental scan of available measurement tools;
- Conduct approximately 20 key informant interviews to inform the development of a strategic action agenda to enhance measurement capacity among Title V and related programs;
- Identify gaps in existing measures and develop and implement new MCH measures that address identified gaps;
- Building the capacity to advance and implement critical research that will address the gaps and promote the research agenda identified by the Network, through both MCHB and other funding sources;
- Assess the validity of any new MCH measures with special attention to the measure’s purpose, psychometric quality, targeted population, setting or conditions (e.g., stages of lifespan, health conditions, special populations, Title V performance measures); Develop a publicly accessible compendium of validated measures;
- Convene an annual Network meeting with key MCH stakeholder groups including representation from MCHB;
- Submit at least one proposal for external funding;
- Support MCHB programmatic measurement needs;
- Accelerate the translation of measurement research to practice by providing evidence of network products being utilized in the field;
- Provide mentored experiences for new investigators;
- Dissemination: Develop and implement a plan to disseminate Network findings through at least two peer-reviewed publications, at least two webinars, Network meetings, and other related activities.
- Maintain a Network website to disseminate research findings, generate interest in the Network, and expand Network membership;