We're Excited to Announce the Release of the 2024 MN Women’s Health Report Card (MN-WHRC)
Accessing many local and national data sources can teach us about the status of women’s health in MN. However, no one source provides Minnesotans with a comprehensive review of specific indicators of women’s health. In order to paint a broad picture of how Minnesota’s women are faring, we have worked with the MN Department of Health (MDH) to comb through the latest data and compile the 2024 MN-WHRC, which provides citizens, public health professionals, policymakers, and others with a short, visual synopsis highlighting key areas of women’s health. The 2024 MN-WHRC contains updated data about greater Minnesota, Minnesota’s built environment, and much more thanks to the efforts of many, including MCH students.
New Policy Brief: State Laws on the Use of Restraints for People who are Pregnant while Incarcerated
The US incarcerates more individuals than any other nation, with over 200,000 women held in prisons and jails. However, despite the fact that 75% are within child-bearing age and approximately 4% are pregnant upon admission to prison, carceral facilities fall short of providing adequate reproductive and obstetric health care and instead prioritize security practices that threaten the health and well-being of pregnant and postpartum individuals. Members of the Justice-involved Women and Children (JIWC) Collaborative (convened by the Center) analyzed state policies on restraint use during the pregnancy, labor and birth, and postpartum periods.
A Student Spotlight Interview: How is Ingri Ramirez’s Focus on Whole-Family Mental Health Enhancing Outcomes for Children and Families?
#UMNMCH student Ingri L. Ramirez-Martin (MPH 2025) describes her experience working with the Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative (RCCMHC). The RCCMHC works to improve access to mental health services for children and families. The organization emphasizes a holistic approach, advocating for care coordination and resource navigation to address the mental health needs of both children and their caregivers. Ingri writes, “As someone who aspires to become a medical provider in the future, I believe that emphasizing mental health is essential for the overall well-being of families. My experience has reinforced my commitment to integrated care systems that recognize the interconnectedness of parent’s and children's mental health, ensuring better long-term outcomes for all.”
Student Spotlight: How are Claire Felter’s and Asmeret Abraha’s Interests in Social Connectedness and Health Paving Their Paths in Their Masters Program?
#UMNMCH students Asmeret Abraha (MPH 2026) and Claire Felter (MCH 2025) describe their deployments at Leap Pediatric and Adolescent Care in St. Paul. Through literature reviews and surveys, they have worked to identify how social connectedness impacts health and how this applies to the St. Paul communities that Leap serves. They hope that their work can improve Leap Pediatric’s ability to provide interventions beyond the clinical realm. Describing their deployment, they say “We've learned how meaningful data collection and interpretation can inform real-world interventions that go beyond the clinic walls. This experience has not only strengthened our research and analytical skills but has also deepened our appreciation for patient-centered care.”
Student Spotlight: How Has Diana Augustin Shaped Their MCH Research Portfolio While at the University of Minnesota (UMN)?
#UMNMCH student Diana Augustin (MPH 2025) reflects on their journey in public health spurred by an interest in reproductive health. From a quirky theater class to an NIH research fellowship and roles at the Justice-Involved Women and Children’s Collaborative and the Cannabis Research Center, Diana’s focus has been on the social and environmental influences of health. During their APEX at the Minnesota Department of Health, they examined sexual and reproductive health services access, including grant funding to local organizations in Greater Minnesota. Diana writes, “The APEX and my broader academic, personal, and research-based experiences have shaped a lifelong commitment to public health. My work at MDH was just one microchapter in this ongoing exploration, and I strive to continue advocating for improved health trajectories for all.”
MCH Leads Blog: Communications and Co-Editing
Melissa Ray, MPH, from University at Albany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences (CIHS), is the May feature of MCH Leads. In her blog entry "Communications and Co-Editing,” Melissa explains how she applied MCH Competency 5 (Communication) into her work as the former co-editor of MCH Leads and as a Graduate Assistant with UAlbany’s MCH Program. “I focused mainly on communications for the MCH Leads National Trainee Blog and email communications for the UAlbany MCH Program. Each day of this role, I lived and breathed Competency 5: Communication.” Learn more about Melissa’s contributions here.
2025 Adolescent Health Summer Institute: Shaping Healthy Communities–Unleashing the Power of Youth
Hosted by the UMN School of Nursing, the 2025 Adolescent Health Summer Institute offers a space for those who work with young people to become a catalyst for positive change by building stronger, more connected communities where all young people can thrive.
Register here.
