Past TRC Summer Institutes 

Dates: July 15-19, 2019

Location: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for American Indian Health in Baltimore, MD

The 2019 TRC Summer Institute offered graduate-level coursework and mentorship to students pursuing early childhood research with American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in particular as related to tribal Head Start, Home Visiting, and Child Care. In addition to completing a 2-credit graduate-level course, TRC Summer Institute participants met with Summer Institute faculty and learned more graduate degree and certificate programs as aligned with their goals.  

Course description 

Early Childhood Research with Tribal Communities was a 2-credit graduate-level course that has students: 1) explore research methods and theoretical approaches to understanding early childhood development, with special emphasis on AI/AN communities; 2) consider systems of early childhood care and education to serve the needs of young children and families in AI/AN communities, and 3) examine unique aspects of AI/AN culture with respect to early development and research, including an emphasis on community-based and community-engaged approaches.

Scholarships

Scholarships were awarded on a competitive basis and provided support for students, health leaders, health professionals, and paraprofessionals serving AI/AN communities. Scholarship recipients received travel and tuition support, mentoring from course faculty, and information about Public Health graduate degrees and the American Indian Health Certificate programs. 

Dates: July 10-14, 2017

Location: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for American Indian Health in Baltimore, MD

The 2017 TRC Summer Institute provided graduate level coursework and mentorship to students interested in pursuing early childhood research with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities especially as related to Head Start, Home Visiting, and Child Care.  In addition to completing a 2-credit course, TRC Summer Institute participants had the opportunity to meet with Summer Institute faculty for mentoring and to learn more about the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and Center for American Indian Health graduate programs. 

Course description

Early Childhood Research with Tribal Communities is a 2-credit graduate level course that has students: 1) explore research methods and theoretical approaches to understanding early childhood development in tribal contexts; 2) consider systems of early childhood care and education to serve the needs of young children and families in tribal communities, and 3) examine unique aspects of tribal culture with respect to early development and research, including an emphasis on community-based and community-engaged approaches.

Scholarships

A total of 5 TRC Summer Institute scholarships were awarded on a competitive basis. Scholarships provided support for scholars, health leaders, health professionals, and paraprofessionals serving AI/AN children, families, and communities.

Dates: July 18-22, 2016 

Location: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for American Indian Health in Baltimore, MD

Course descriptions

Scholarship awardees chose from two 2-credit graduate courses, according to their professional and academic needs.

Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods (221.672.11)

July 18-22, 2016; M-F; 8:30am-noon  |  Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Syllabus

This course provided a basic overview of qualitative and quantitative research methods and the different applications of each to a variety of public health interventions. Readings, lectures, and labs explored different research methods and the process of selecting the appropriate method to design and implement a variety of public health interventions. Topics included: focus groups, in-depth interviews, comparison designs, intervention designs, and randomized controlled trials. Students gained a basic understanding of these research methods and applied them to existing projects on which they were working.

Introduction to Data Management Using American Indian Health Data (221.671.11)

July 18-22, 2016; M-F; 1:30pm-5:00pm  |  Introduction to Data Management Syllabus

This was an introductory course for students interested in the fundamental tools of public health research. The course focused on the principles of data management, including development of data flow diagrams; development of data collection forms, data dictionaries, and related documentation; fundamentals of database design; methods of data capture; data validation and methods of quality assurance; and principles of data security. Students worked with American Indian Health data sets to apply skills learned throughout the course. 

Prerequisites

Experience living or working in/with American Indian and Alaska Native settings/communities and experience/interest in early childhood development and research with tribal communities was required. A bachelor’s degree was required to take the course for credit and for scholarship eligibility.

Scholarships

A limited number of TRC Summer Institute tuition and travel scholarships were awarded on a competitive basis.

Dates: July 13-17, 2015

Location: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for American Indian Health in Baltimore, MD

Course description

The Early Childhood Research with Tribal Communities course (number 221.665) was offered to AI/AN tribal early childhood program directors and staff, health and education professionals and paraprofessionals, and others interested in tribal early childhood development. Course goals were to: 1) explore research methods and theoretical approaches to understanding early childhood development and intervention strategies in tribal contexts; 2) consider optimal systems of early childhood care in population settings with considerable environmental and structural challenges; and 3) examine unique aspects of tribal research and culture, emphasizing the importance of community-based and community-engaged approaches.

TRC 2015 Summer Institute Syllabus

Course Learning Objectives

1. Discuss early childhood programs, intervention research, and community/cultural considerations related to family and school-based approaches to promoting early childhood development in tribal settings;
2. List basic concepts of research study design, implementation, and analysis within tribal contexts;
3. Identify a research question relevant to early childhood development in tribal communities and suggest appropriate research methodologies to answer that question; and
4. Use research to inform early childhood program, practice, and intervention improvement.

Course Format: Teaching methods included lectures, group discussions, individual work, and a final paper for those taking the course for credit.

Method of Student Evaluation: Students were graded on: (1) class attendance and participation; (2) individual work, and (3) a final paper (for credit only).

Prerequisites

The course was designed for AI/AN tribal early childhood program directors and staff, health and education professionals and paraprofessionals, and others interested in tribal early childhood development and research. Prerequisites included experience living or working in/with AI/AN settings/communities and experience/interest in early childhood development and research with tribal communities. Previous formal training in research methods was not required. A bachelor’s degree was required to take the course for credit. Students without a bachelor’s degree could take the course as non-credit.

Core faculty

Allison Barlow, MA, MPH, PhD Associate Director, Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health; Jessica Barnes, PhD, Associate Director, University-Community Partnerships, Michigan State University; Ann Belleau, AA (Ojibwe), Head Start Director, Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, Inc.; Doug Novins, MD, Professor, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; Myra Parker, MPH, JD, PhD (Mandan-Hidatsa), Consultant, Indigenous Wellness Research Institute; Michelle Sarche, PhD (Ojibwe), Associate Professor, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; John Walkup, MD, Director, ​Division Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College; Nancy Whitesell, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Colorado.

Scholarships

A limited number of travel and tuition scholarships were awarded on a competitive basis.

Dates: July 14-18, 2014 

Location: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for American Indian Health in Baltimore, MD

The 2014 TRC Summer Institute provided graduate level coursework and mentorship to students interested in pursuing research with tribal early childhood programs such as Head Start, Home Visiting, and Child Care. In addition to completing a 2-credit research methods course, TRC Summer Institute participants had the chance to meet with core faculty for targeted mentoring and to learn more about the Center for American Indian Health’s graduate public health degree and public health certificate programs. 

Course Description: Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods (221.671.11)

July 14-18, 2014; M-F; 8:30am-noon  |  Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Syllabus

Prerequisites

Experience living or working in/with American Indian and Alaska Native settings/communities and experience/interest in early childhood development and research with tribal communities was required. A bachelor’s degree was required to take the course for credit, and was required for scholarship eligibility. Students without a bachelor’s degree could have taken the course for non-credit; students without a bachelor’s degree were not eligible for scholarship support.

Scholarships

A limited number of travel and tuition scholarships were awarded on a competitive basis. Students who took past TRC Summer Institute courses and who were working in tribal Head Start, Home Visiting, Child Care, or other early childhood programs were strongly encouraged to apply.