Leadership, Legacy, & Community: A Retreat to Advance MCH Scholarship & Practice

July 15-16, 2013
Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook, IL

During the 2013 Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership Retreat, we concluded the program with a discussion about the core act of leadership which involves changing the conversations we choose to engage with as leaders. Having the courage to change tired, worn-out, difficult, negative, and non-productive conversations is essential to leading with inspiration and innovation and it is essential to improved MCH and public health. This is where we start our 2-day leadership development training this year. We begin with a session on enhancing professionalism including learning techniques for engaging with disruptive behaviors from our colleagues so that these individuals do not continue to send our teams/organizations into a quick downward spiral resulting in collective low productivity and stagnation. We will also practice methods to support exemplary leadership when we see it. This work is not for the faint of heart and it is necessary for individuals committed to shifting cultures and improving public health.

We will delve deeper into the practical implementation of conflict management and negotiation strategies. These concepts often times live in a didactic environment. In this training, we will take theory and engage in experiential exercises to fine-tune our conflict management and negotiation skills. Participants will leave the training with a new confidence in their ability to handle difficult situations. We will explore in great detail the concept of ‘leading from the middle’ which is relevant to everyone who finds him/herself in the middle of an organizational structure. We will discuss power and influence and practice techniques/skills to influence others no matter what our position. We will conclude this training with an experience of the power of collective wisdom and a discussion of how to share the importance of inspiring collective wisdom in our individual work environments. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need and desire to tap into collective wisdom to make change happen, to shift cultures, and to improve MCH in ways that we haven’t been able to until this point in history.

If you see yourself as an MCH change agent or wish to learn practical skills for how to be a positive force for MCH change, this program is designed just for you!

Click here to view the program-at-a-glance.

Who Should Attend

Intergenerational, interdisciplinary academic/practice professionals and students who are interested in the health and well-being of women, children, and families. This includes:

• MCH Title V & Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) directors
• Program directors, managers, and staff
• Program staff & Community Health Workers Researchers
• Physicians
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Policy and family advocates
• Health educators and administrators
• Faculty/staff/students

Registration

• Academic/Practice Professionals  $325 ($325 until 06/17/2013, after 06/17/2013 a late registration fee of $425 applies)
• Students   $200

Click here to register.

If you are planning to attend the retreat, but you are waiting to register until you receive employer approval etc. please notify Jaime Klaus at jaimkl@uic.edu so we can estimate the number of people who might be attending the retreat. This will help us anticipate and plan for various aspects of the retreat (space needs, set up).

Reservations

The retreat will take place at the Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook, IL.  Rooms are available at the Lodge for $92/night. A block of rooms is reserved under the name 'UIC'. Please reserve your room early! The cut-off date to receive the group rate is 06/17/13. You can click here to make reservations online or call 888.421.1442.

National Retreat Planning Committee

The National Planning Committee provides ongoing and consistent support and guidance to the MCHP faculty and staff as they plan the retreat. Click here for a current list of the committee members.

Special Thanks to our Supporters

• The retreat is partially supported by grant number T21MC08048 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
• University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences Division