Fieldwork Information Session

October 8, 2014Silberman, Room 201

Fieldwork info session learning objectives

At the end of this session, you should be able to….1. Articulate what fieldwork is and why it’s important

2. Describe the relationship between fieldwork and capstone and identify implications for planning

3. Develop a fieldwork site search strategy unique to your goals and situation

4. List the deliverables for fieldwork

5. Articulate the roles and responsibilities of key players

Why fieldwork? The MPH (and MS) are designed to prepare you for the public

health workforce. In fieldwork, you… Demonstrate the application of basic public health concepts through a

practice experience Deal with real-world public health settings, tackle real-world

problems, work with real-world people and real-world constraints Fieldwork offers the rare opportunity to do and to reflect in an

integrated and supervised manner Great way to explore job possibilities and build contacts

What is fieldwork? 180 hours of supervised, professional-developmentally

appropriate work in public health setting negotiated by student and fieldwork supervisor and approved by instructor Paid or unpaid Substantive experience/not clerical

Required class meetings (‘didactic’ sessions) Class meetings for Spring 2015: 7 Wednesdays, 8-10 pm Class meeting for Summer 2015: 2 full-day sessions (early and

late June) Didactic sessions have assignments as well

What is capstone? The capstone paper is not a conventional ‘term’ paper

It requires original analysis based on evidence collected during the field experience, or Original work developed for the field and based on the best evidence Comprehensive knowledge of a content area is the starting, not the ending point

You develop this through extensive secondary research and through experience, both of which occur during your fieldwork

In addition to the paper, students choose An oral capstone presentation OR A poster exhibit/presentation

Capstone students also meet as a class and receive structured support and progressive assignments to help them progress to the paper

What is a master’s essay? Pretty much the same thing

Capstone and master’s essay differ in process Master’s essay students work more independently with a faculty advisor

on an original research project To do a master’s essay, you need:

A sponsoring faculty A 3.8 GPA You may secure a second reader as well.

Master’s essays substitute for capstone but not fieldwork (exceptions apply so discuss this option early with the fieldwork faculty)

What is the relationship between fieldwork and capstone?

The capstone paper/master’s essay is expected to be on a project related to your fieldwork Ergo…..you have to think ahead and negotiate a fieldwork project that

will provide you with data to analyze; material to work with Generally more flexibility on relationship to fieldwork with master’s

essay Fieldwork is a prerequisite for capstone

You may register for capstone course when you have completed your fieldwork the capstone instructor has approved you as “capstone-ready”

When am I ready for fieldwork? When you have met pre-reqs

18 credits toward the master's degree, including Biostatistics Epidemiology at least 2 courses in your specialization

…and… You have at least a tentative agreement with an appropriate field site You have some idea of the project you will undertake The fieldwork instructor has approved you as field-ready

When am I ready for capstone? When you have completed your fieldwork When you have a capstone proposal When you have received permission from your

program’s capstone instructor

Who are the major players?

1. You, the student

2. Preceptor (aka fieldwork supervisor)

3. Academic advisor

4. Fieldwork faculty member (Spring 2015) COMHE –K. Faber EOHS – B. Pavlonis EPI/BIOS – H. Jones HPM – J. Chisholm NUTR – A. Spark

How do I find fieldwork?

Many of you already know what type of organization you want Think about the types of jobs/ settings / skills that interest you, post MPH For MCRSH, see list in appendix Consider formal training opportunities with the DOHMH (HRTP) or CDC Scour list serves, websites, etc.

http://www.cuny.edu/site/sph/hunter-college/campus-resources/listserv.html http://www.idealist.org/ http://www.east-harlem.com/index.php/Organizations/olisting

Talk, talk, talk Advisor, faculty, students, colleagues, professional meetings, informational interviews

Where have others done fieldwork? Physicians for Reproductive

Health International Federation of

Planned Parenthood Family Health Institute Mount Sinai Hospital Edible School Yard CUNY EHS Office MTA Blacksmith Foundation NYComm for Occupational

Safety and Health (NYCOSH)

NYCDOHMH CUNY SPH (working with faculty) New York State Psychiatric Institute School of Medicine, University of

Cuenca (Ecuador) Sakhi for South Asian Women City Harvest Camp Zeke Offices of elected officials North of 96th Street Public Health

Coalition Healthy Start Brooklyn Children’s Museum of Manhattan

(CMOM)

What types of projects do they do? Evaluation of a program or intervention Capacity building Development of a health promotion program Develop or implement pilot/evaluation Audit or quality improvement Develop a curriculum Community assessment Communications assessment Development or analysis of a social media health promotion strategy Evaluability assessment Development of best practices

What if I work full-time? Here’s what others in your shoes have done

Negotiate flextime, use vacation time Find off-hour (evening, weekend) work Negotiate a special public health project in your workplace

Something that enhances institution’s goals but would not be done otherwise

Outside the scope of your regular responsibilities A preceptor who is not your direct supervisor

Seek out faculty with interesting projects and devise an academic-based fieldwork project which can be done in non-traditional time

How should I evaluate a potential site? Will it provide appropriate public health experience, relevant to your interests or

area of concentration? Will it provide support and (safe) space for your project or responsibilities? Is there a qualified, “willing and able” preceptor to…?

Work with you to determine specific, mutually-agreeable fieldwork objectives and deliverables, which are written up in your contract

Provide orientation of the organization’s mission, programs, policies and protocols

Provide appropriate direction, as well as create time for instructional interaction and dialogue

Prepare, share with you, and submit to faculty instructor an evaluation of your performance at the end of the field experience

Preceptor must have at least a masters’ degree and preferably an MPH

What are the field deliverables? You negotiate your field deliverables with your preceptor

Roles, responsibilities, tangible deliverables Don’t promise your capstone paper as a field deliverable

PH 737 (fieldwork) deliverables are non-negotiable and must be delivered to your fieldwork faculty in order to proceed to PH 738 (capstone),

a contract (within a week of start of semester) a rapid literature review a project plan (Gantt chart) an IRB research determination form (or full IRB if necessary) a short essay summarizing reflections on your fieldwork experience a formal (narrative) literature review a capstone paper proposal with a clearly articulated research question

Back up, did you say an IRB????Yes, at minimum, you file a Research Determination Form; at maximum, you need a full IRB review

Many projects are exempt Non-identifiable data (Data that have never been labeled with individual

identifiers or from which identifiers have been permanently removed) Analysis of de-identified, public use or administrative data (e.g. analysis of

CDC BRFSS data) Analysis of de-identified secondary data that was already IRB approved (e.g.

analysis of a de-identified dataset maintained by a faculty researcher) Collection/analyses of information used to improve program quality only (e.g.

not intended to be published for generalizable knowledge)

If your project qualifies as “research with human subjects,” you will need a full IRB review even if your field site has IRB approval

All projects must be submitted. Determination may be exempt, approved or not research.

How should I think about the timeline? Steps are needed at each of the following

junctures: The semester before your planned PH737

fieldwork experience Just before and during the fieldwork semester End of the fieldwork semester

Get ready! The semester before

Notify your program advisor of your intention to register for PH 737

Discuss eligibility and possible fieldwork options you are considering

Make an appointment with your track fieldwork faculty who must approve your registration

Have a good sense of what your intended project or organization is by the time you register for the next semester’s PH737 course

On your mark!Plus/minus two weeks to the semester

Finalize details of project site, preceptor and project Develop a written work plan, including the

“fieldwork contract” Must have discrete deliverables and acknowledge the use of

the work for the capstone class

Get signature of both fieldwork faculty member and preceptor

Get set! Throughout the semester

Do your fieldwork Attend classes Communicate regularly with your preceptor

Know what is expected Know what you can do independently Know what you need guidance and direction on

Update fieldwork faculty member Keep a daily log of activities and submit fieldwork status

surveys throughout the fieldwork assignment Stay on top of didactic assignments

GO! End of semester

Submit final materials for fieldwork Your fieldwork evaluation Preceptor’s evaluation of your performance

sent directly to fieldwork faculty, however please make sure that it is sent!

Reflections essay Brief literature review IRB approval (if applicable) Capstone paper proposal Working bibliography Any other outstanding deliverables

What is the role of fieldwork faculty? Aside from teaching the classes, you should expect

Suggestions of where to look for fieldwork Ideas for defining a project that could lead to a capstone paper Timely review of all materials submitted Counseling on people situations, access, questionnaire review, etc. More visible trouble shooting, if needed Gentle nudging, occasional stomping, help keeping on track High expectations of your work

Ultimately, you are accountable Faculty play a supporting role

Is there anything else I should be thinking about?

Every MPH- and MS-degree student is required to prepare and maintain a professional portfolio, describing relevant public health experiences and achievements during the course of your studies. 

The portfolio documents your academic, professional and service accomplishments and may include major course papers, projects, reports, presentations, publications and other samples of work you completed.

What is the course number for fieldwork and capstone?

PH 737 FieldworkPH 738 Capstone

How do I get more information?Fieldwork handbook, available at: http://www.cuny.edu/site/sph/hunter-college/campus-resources/fieldwork.html

Capstone handbook, available at:

http://www.cuny.edu/site/sph/hunter-college/campus-resources/capstone.html

For defining research with human subjects:

https://ors.duke.edu/researcher/defining-research-with-human-subjects

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/hs/faqs_aps_definitions.htm

http://www.irbnet.org

For building my portfolio:http://www.cuny.edu/site/sph/hunter-college/campus-resources/PortfolioInstructions.html

Questions?

Appendix

Type of field sites Federal agencies, such as the USDHHS, VA, CDC, USDA, OSHA State, county or city health departments or social service agencies Managed care organizations Neighborhood health centers and community clinics Hospitals (public, nonprofit, for profit) Extended care facilities or community mental health centers Environmental health consulting companies Industrial settings Multi-specialty medical practices Head Start, public schools, private schools, nursery schools Academic or other non-governmental research institute Be sure to look at the listserv for opportunities

MCRSH fieldwork leadsSite name Location WebsiteAbortion Access Project P.O. Box 21191, NY NY http://www.reproductiveaccess.org/about/staff.htm

Adolescent AIDS Program at Montefiore

3415 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY http://www.montekids.org/services/aap/

AIDS Service Center 41 E. 11th St, NY NY http://www.ascnyc.org/

Alliance for Women's Equality25 Washington St, 4th Flr, Brooklyn NY (no longer working)

Anti-violence project240 West 35th Street, NY, NY www.avp.org

Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice

1440 Broadway Ste 301, Oakland CA http://forwardtogether.org/

Association of Reproductive Health Professionals

1901 L Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington DC http://www.arhp.org/

Brooklyn Young Mother's Collective339 Douglass Street, #2, Brooklyn NY http://www.bymcinc.org/

Caribbean Women's Health Association

3512 Church Ave, Brooklyn, NY http://www.cwha.org/

MCRSH fieldwork leadsSite name Location WebsiteChoice HIV/AIDS Initative India http://choicehivaids.org/about-choice/81-our-missi

on

Choices in Childbirth441 Lexington Ave, 19th Floor, NY NY http://www.choicesinchildbirth.org/

DOHMH, Bur of Maternal, Infant & Reprod Hlth

2 Lafayette St, 18th Fl, NY NY

Ford Foundation320 East 43rd Street, NY NY http://www.fordfoundation.org/

Global Youth Coaltion on HIV/AIDS (GYCA)

540 President St., Brooklyn NY http://www.gyca.org/

Guttmacher Institute125 Maiden Lane, 7th, NY NY http://www.guttmacher.org/

Healthy CUNY Initiative2190 3rd Ave, NY NY http://www.cuny.edu/about/resources/healthycuny.

htmlHIV and AIDS Technical Assistance Project 131 Livingston Ave, NY NY http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P107375/lesoth

o-hiv-aids-technical-assistance-project?lang=en&tab=overviewInstitute for Family Health 16 E. 16th St., NY NY http://www.institute2000.org/

MCRSH fieldwork leadsSite name Location Website

Mother's Voices165 West 46th Street, NY NY

NARAL Pro Choice NY 427 Bdwy, 3rd Flr, NY NY http://www.prochoiceny.org/

NYC AIDS Housing Network80-A Fourth Ave., Brooklyn NY http://www.vocal-ny.org/contact-us/

NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault 32 Broadway, NY NY http://www.svfreenyc.org/

Partnership for Family Health- Public Health Solutions

40 Worth Street, 5th Floor, NY NY http://www.healthsolutions.org/?event=page.Healt

h_ServicesPhysicians for Reproductive Health 55 W. 39th St, NY NY http://www.prch.org/

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc

434 West 33rd Street, NY NY http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Planned Parenthood of NY, Inc 26 Bleeker St. NY, NY http://www.plannedparenthood.org/nyc/

Preconception Peer Educator Program (via Association of MCH Programs) www.amchp.org

MCRSH fieldwork leadsSite name Location WebsiteReproductive Health Access Project P.O. Box 21191, NY NY http://www.reproductiveaccess.org/

Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition

116-51 224th Street, Cambria Heights NY http://us.ywchac.org/

Just Ask Me (JAM) Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (through Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation)

50 East 168th Street, Bronx, NY

Nicole Jennings:njennings@whedco.org; http://www.whedco.org/Currently looking for part time program coordinator (12/5/13)