MCH Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways Program - Project Abstract Project Title: University of South Dakota MCH Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways Training Program Applicant Organization: University of South Dakota Project Director: Shelby Jepperson, MPH, CPH Project Period: September 30, 2026–May 31, 2031 The University of South Dakota MCH Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways Training Program, or USD LEAP, will strengthen South Dakota’s maternal and child health workforce pipeline by preparing interdisciplinary undergraduate students for MCH-related healthcare and public health careers. South Dakota’s rural geography, maternity care deserts, health professional shortages, prenatal care gaps, infant mortality, low birth weight, maternal behavioral health needs, disability service needs, and family-serving system gaps create a strong need for a coordinated undergraduate pathway into MCH careers. USD LEAP will serve undergraduate students in public health, health sciences, nursing, social work, psychology, education, pre-health pathways, disability-related fields, health services administration, women’s and gender studies, and other child- and family-serving disciplines. The project will expose students to MCH systems, Title V, life course theory, rural public health, family-centered care, interdisciplinary practice, leadership development, professional preparation, mentorship, and experiential learning. USD LEAP will recruit, train, retain, and support at least 30 unduplicated undergraduate trainees annually, including at least 10 medium- or long-term trainees annually, for a total of at least 150 trainees and 50 medium- or long-term trainees over the five-year project period. The program will include short-term, medium-term, and long-term trainee pathways through a foundational MCH workshop, digital badge options, structured mentoring, MCH-related experiential learning, conference and networking activities, and a proposed undergraduate MCH certificate. Medium- and long-term trainees will complete structured mentorship, Individual Development Plans, and MCH-related internships or experiential learning activities. The project will be housed in the USD School of Health Sciences and implemented with cross-college support from the College of Arts & Sciences and School of Education. USD LEAP will partner with MCH-related healthcare, public health, disability, behavioral health, family-serving, and rural health organizations to support mentorship, experiential learning, career exposure, and workforce pathway development. Expected outcomes include increased undergraduate exposure to MCH careers, improved trainee knowledge of MCH systems and rural public health, expanded mentoring and experiential learning for students preparing for MCH-related careers, stronger academic-practice partnerships, and a sustainable undergraduate MCH pathway. Over time, USD LEAP will increase the number of emerging professionals prepared to serve MCH populations in South Dakota’s rural or other medically underserved communities.
