HHS Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program Research Fellowship

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

HHS Office and Location:  A research opportunity is currently available at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) located in Rockville, Maryland.

The mission of HHS is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides equitable health care to the nation’s highest-need communities. Our programs support people with low incomes, people with HIV, pregnant people, children, parents, rural communities, transplant patients, and the health workforce. HRSA is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

The ORISE fellowship will be housed in the Division of Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development (DMCHWD), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the primary federal agency for improving access to high quality health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. MCHB is the one federal bureau responsible for improving the health of all America’s mothers, children, and families. We envision an America where all children and families are healthy and thriving. The DMCHWD supports and educates leaders in maternal and child health (MCH). We provide leadership for state- and community-level programs to support the development of the MCH workforce.

Research Project: This fellowship is designed to:

• Provide an environment where a highly qualified, productive candidate will be able to learn and develop,
• Strengthen the evaluation and research capacity of the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program (PMHCA), and
• Promote the use of data to improve health equity and reduce health disparities.

The PMHCA Program promotes behavioral health integration into pediatric primary care using telehealth. Statewide or regional networks of pediatric mental health teams provide teleconsultation, training, technical assistance, and care coordination support services for pediatric primary care and other providers to recognize pediatric behavioral health conditions and to diagnose, treat and refer children with such conditions. Under the guidance of a mentor, the ORISE Fellow will provide research, analytic, and evaluative support for the PMHCA Program.

The fellow would be expected to complete the following potential products by the end of the fellowship: develop summaries of key themes and findings based on qualitative and quantitative research and analyses of awardee’s applications, final reports and performance data. 

Learning Objectives: The fellow will gain experience in:

• Assisting the PMHCA Evaluation and Performance Measurement Lead in advising DMCHWD leadership on the design, production, and dissemination of annual PMHCA performance measures.
• Identifying, designing, and conducting analyses of surveillance and program data. Uses these analyses to inform program and policy related items.
• Preparing written materials of a scientific and programmatic nature of findings and analyses. These summaries will be presented both written and orally to MCHB staff and the public.
• Participating in the analysis of PMHCA program data documenting the performance of MCHB funding by grantees as well as the characteristics of clients served and services delivered by MCHB program grantees and providers.
• Facilitating awardee reporting by creating and updating guidance for data reporting Participating in the analyses of other Federal MCH-related data and surveillance systems to inform MCHB programs and policies.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Lauren Ramos (lramos@hrsa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 1, 2024. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of HHS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend: Stipend rates may vary based on numerous factors, including opportunity, location, education, and experience. If you are interviewed, you can inquire about the exact stipend rate at that time and if selected, your appointment offer will include the monthly stipend rate.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) only.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and HHS. Participants do not become employees of HHS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email HHSrpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate will have earned a master's or doctoral degree in a related field (e.g. public health, health education, behavioral or social science, epidemiology) within the past five years or will be currently pursuing. 

Preferred skills:

• Demonstrated ability to provide research expertise across in maternal and child health topics with a particular emphasis on reducing health disparities and advancing health equity.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the application of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods and performance measurement tools, including data visualization.
• Demonstrated skills in applying research and data to inform program decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in a research team in leadership and/or support roles.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience presenting to diverse audiences, and developing high-quality reports and other written products.
• Strong critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and time management skills.
• Experience managing programs or projects with multiple components.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Academic Level(s): Graduate Students, Postdoctoral, or Post-Master's.