Interprofessional Student Teams Participated in a Summer Fellowship with the DHHS

Students enrolled in multiple programs and institutions at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) participated in an 6-week Interprofessional Education (IPE) summer fellowship with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). A multi-institutional faculty and staff workgroup created, developed and implemented the fellowship; Dr. Rebecca Wiseman, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) School of Nursing; Dr. Joan Pittman, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) School of Social Work; Dr. Heather Congdon, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) School of Pharmacy; Dr. Diane Alonso, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Department of Psychology; Dr. Jess O'Hara, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) School of Public Health Science; Ms. Katie Morris, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC); Department of Social Work and Ms. Mary Lang, Chief Strategy Officer at USG. 

A total of 16 students participated in the fellowship which ran from May 29-July 10. Two facilitators coordinated the curriculum development and programs: Aneise Childress-Harvell, DHHS Coordinator, and Katie Morris, Faculty Coordinator, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Department of Social Work.

The students experienced interdisciplinary teamwork by visiting several service agencies throughout Montgomery County (MC). The local service agencies that participated were: Linkages to Learning and School Based Health Center sites at Summit Hall Elementary; Family Justice Center---delete; Avery Road Treatment Center; MC Detention Center and Behavioral Health and Corrections integrated services including the Clinical Assessment and Triage Program (CATS); MC Crisis Center; Pre-Release Center--delete; Gude Drive Men's Shelter; Treehouse (Child Advocacy Center);  Greentree Family Shelter; Holiday Park Senior Center; The Juvenile Assessment Center (Juvenile Justice and Behavioral Health)---delete; Dennis Avenue Health Center (HIV and Communicable Diseases); and visits from Adult Protective Services, Child Welfare, Privacy and Confidentiality, and an Equity training. 

The student’s final project included a presentation about their experiences with DHHS’s integrated approach and recommendations to help DHHS move forward in expanding integrated services. The student presentations highlighted Montgomery County Detention Center, Holiday Park Senior Center, Treehouse Advocacy Center and the Greentree shelter.

At the conclusion of the student presentations, DHHS Coordinator Katie Morris, reflected, “For the fifth year in a row we had a great group of students. Myself and the other coordinators noticed the passion and commitment from the students throughout the fellowship. We truly believe that this group of students will make a difference in our community in their future professional roles."

The students who participated in the fellowship were: