Developing a Repository of Excellence in

Maternal and Child Health (MCH):

Past, Present & Future Voices

Conducting Oral Histories with MCH Leaders

Assignment

Template Guidelines• The following slides may be used to explain and discuss

the Maternal and Child Health Oral Histories assignment and how it can be used in your classroom.

• The creation of this toolkit was funded by the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health and assembled through a collaborative project with the University of South Florida and the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

• This presentation can be used in its entirety or adapted as desired. Slides can be added, deleted or changed to meet the needs of your class.

• This presentation and the attached assignment is suggested for use by both introductory and special topic Maternal and Child Health courses.

Maternal and Child Health

• Determinants, mechanisms, and systems that promote the health and well-being of mothers, children, families, and subsequent generations

• Supports healthy environments for the vulnerable populations

(Alexander, 2004)

Image retrieved from: http://www.dsfhs.org/thebronx.nxg

MCH History

• Early 20th century, social action and change agents▫Federal Children’s Bureau

• New programs delivering MCH services▫National Birth Registry, Sheppard-Towner Act, Title V

• Increases in healthcare and needs fulfillment▫Medicare/Medicaid, Title X, WIC program, Healthy

Start

• Organizations still working today▫MCHB, ATMCH, etc.

(Maternal Child Health Bureau, 2012)

MCH History

Julia C. Lathrop

Grace Abbott

Martha May Eliot

MCH Leaders: Past and Present

•What did we learn from these leaders?

▫Setting and prioritization of MCH initiatives

▫Early influences have life-long impacts

▫Retention of funding in weak economic times

▫Creative thinking to address issues and problems

(Petersen, 2009)

Growing from Our Past

•How have we grown as a field?▫Continued mission of protecting welfare for

all

▫Responses to shifts in priorities over time

▫Emerging issues due to public health evolution

•It is important to understand where we have been to know where we are going.

What is Oral History?• Tool to preserve meaningful and relevant stories, skills

and practices

• Distinct in content and extent▫ In-depth account of personal reflections from past▫ Sufficient length allotted for story telling▫ Focused on sharing knowledge gained with the public and

future generations

• Comprised of 2 main parts ▫ Process of recording individuals’ narratives about the

past▫ Verbal document produced

Oral History

• Goal of oral history is long term preservation

• Accessibility and preservation is essential▫ Open to future researchers and the public▫ Ensure proper preservation and use updated

technology

• Strengths of oral histories ▫ Subjectivity: what happened and how you felt about it▫ Partnership of co-creation: narrator’s interpretation

and viewpoint on experiences

Best Practices• Interviewer must prepare to ask questions of historical

significance▫ Research

Understand historical context Find information gaps

• Plan adequate time to capture the entirety of narrators stories▫ 1.5 to 2 hours per session▫ Plan multiple sessions if necessary

• Allow freedom in narrator responses▫ Length, order, style, etc.

Preparing for an Oral History

• Identify potential interviewees

• Contact interviewees and request an interview

• Arrange a meeting with interviewee

• Research the time frame of the topic and the lives of the interviewees

• Obtain and test recording equipment

• Make an interview road map

During the Interview

• Be respectful of your narrator

• Informed consent and donor agreement forms

• Be conscious of your equipment

• Begin recording with a general introduction

• Be prepared to go off topic

• Maintain eye contact

• Wrap up the interview with lighter talk.

• End with an expression of appreciation

Asking Questions

• Start with broad questions and ask follow ups to clarify specifics

• Begin with the simple questions

• Cover topics chronologically if possible

• Sensitive or confrontational topics should be left until later in the interview

• Ask one question at a time

• Probe for details

• Avoid loaded questions

Interviewing Tips

• Try a 2 sentence format for questions

• If answers are perfunctory

▫ Ask more open-ended or more general questions

▫ Give plenty of down-time between questions

• Do more than ask questions

• Do not interrupt narrator

• Don’t be afraid of silence

Goals of the Project• Teach, archive and celebrate MCH

• Involve faculty, students and the community in collaborative and meaningful teaching experience

• Add richness and meaning to MCH learning opportunities

• Begin to build a repository that will be invaluable as senior MCH experts retire

• Promote concrete understanding of MCH central themes▫ Cultural competency, family centered care,

life-course perspective, establishing a medical home, etc.

Additional ResourcesAbrams, L. (2010). Oral history theory. New York, NY: RoutledgeAlexander, G.R. (2004). Maternal and Child Health (MCH). Encyclopedia of

Health Care Management. CA: Sage Publications.Baylor University Institute for Oral History. (2012). Introduction to oral history

[PDF document]. Retrieved from http://www.baylor.edu/oralhistoryCaldwell, R.B.. (2009). Principles and Best Practices. In Oral History

Association. Retrieved from http://www.oralhistory.org/about/principles-and-practices/

Hunt , M. (2003). The Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide [PDF document]. Retrieved from http://www.folklife.si.edu/resources/pdf/interviewingguide.pdf

Maternal Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). MCH Timeline. Retrieved from http://mchb.hrsa.gov/about/timeline/

Minnesota Historical Society. (2001). Oral history project guidelines [PDF document]. Retrieved from http://www.mnhs.org/collections/oralhistory/ohguidelines.pdf

Moyer. J. (1999). Step-by-step guide to oral history. Retrieved from http://dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/oralHistory.html

Petersen, D.J. (2009). MCH Leadership and Policy in the 21st Century [PowerPoint slides]. Available upon request.

Vamos C.A., Daley E.M., Perrin K., Mahan C., & Buhi E.R. (2011). Approaching four decades of politics in family planning: A compilation of Title X’s legislative history. American Journal of Public Health, 101, 2027-2037