After graduation, what? An analysis of the job placements of graduates of public health maternal and child health training programs. Project of the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health.

Objectives: In 1995, the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health (ATMCH) decided that information about the employment status of program graduates was essential to attempts to improve MCH curricula.

Method: ATMCH requested information from 13 MCH programs in schools of public health funded by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau and 12 provided information about their master's degree graduates in the 1990-1994 period, including the year of graduation, degree, Bureau traineeship support, position held, and employing agency.

Results: The total number of graduates was 742. Four programs averaged less than 8 graduates per year (small); six, 10-16 (midsize); and two more than 22 (large). More than 90% of graduates received a M.P.H. In the 10 programs that provided data on Bureau support, 46% received traineeship support from the Bureau. Midsize programs had the largest percentage of graduates receiving traineeship support. Overall, 45% of graduates were in administrative positions, 32% were involved in patient care, 20% were in policy-analytic positions, and 3% in other positions. Forty-seven percent of program graduates entered into or continued in community-based agencies, 18% in government agencies, 17% in academic or research agencies, and 18% in other agencies. Program size was significantly associated with both position and the agency in which the graduate was employed. Bureau traineeship support was associated with employing agency.

Conclusions: The study suggests the need for changes in MCH curricula, enhanced education opportunities in specialty skill areas, and an ongoing survey of graduates of MCH programs.