George Washington School of Nursing’s Dr. Sherrie Wallington, an assistant professor of health disparities and oncology, along with her colleague, Dr. Tony Yang, professor and executive director of the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, were selected as fellows as part of the 2020 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program (IRL). This is a three-year (2020-2023) funding of $371,000 with 20% support for each fellow/leader. The IRL connects leaders in varying professions and fields of expertise from all over the country to promote collaboration and learning from one another to develop stronger leadership competencies.
Drs. Wallington and Yang, along with their community partnering organization, Alliance of Concerned Men, Inc in D.C., make up their team focusing on the project, It’s a Dad Thing: Fathers as Powerful Agents of Change in Reducing Disparities in Maternal Mortality in the District of Columbia. This project is a mixed-methods study that examines the role of fathers in reducing maternal mortality in the District of Columbia. Currently, D.C. has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality, especially among Black women.
The anticipated outcome of their project is to expand current literature and identify multilevel issues related to father involvement in improving maternal/child health outcomes. A particular aspect of the study involves examining policy-level factor that promote or impede father involvement. Their findings will contribute to the design of innovative and sustainable father-focused interventions and community-engaged activities.
The research component of the study will feature a visual research method known as photo voice, various focus groups and discussions, and cross-sectional surveys, all of which will take place in the targeted communities.
Right now, Drs. Wallington and Yang are working with their community partner to establish a community advisory board, which will help inform and provide feedback throughout the duration of the project. The community advisory board will ensure that the goals of the project fully reflect the needs and makeup of the D.C. communities that are part of the project. By working with a community advisory board, the project leaders expect that the resulting actions at the conclusion of the project will produce significant, real-world changes that directly benefit the parents and children living in those communities.
The project leaders are also hard at work finalizing data collection processes and tools as well as seeking feedback from RWJF staff and community partner organizations in order to maximize the long-term impact of their study. To learn more about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s IRL program, visit www.irleaders.org.
AUTHOR Sherrie Wallington & Tony Yang