The MCHB Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Program is devoted to the health and well-being of adolescents in the United States through education, research, program and service model development, evaluation, and dissemination of best practices. They provide interdisciplinary leadership training, faculty development, continuing education, scholarship, technical assistance and collaboration with MCH programs, Title V programs in state departments of public health, State Adolescent Health Coordinators, policymakers and professional organizations concerned with the health of adolescents. The LEAH program educates and mentors the next generation of leaders in adolescent health who will influence public policy and public health experts, and train clinicians, investigators and educators. LEAH projects are committed to honoring diversity among youth and training health care leaders who have the capacity to develop programs, services, and interventions within the cultural context and social environments relevant to those being served. The seven currently funded projects have a long history of commitment to training in adolescent health and include the University of California at San Francisco, University of Minnesota, Harvard Medical School (Children's Hospital Boston), Indiana University, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. LEAH programs have trained more than 600 long-term trainees since 1977 with most employed at academic institutions, public health or other public agencies.

Over the past thirty years, LEAH projects have provided leadership in adolescent health within the Title V/MCH programs. MCHB is committed to excellence in adolescent health and the creation of a central focus for adolescent health within State Title V Programs, the State Adolescent Health Coordinator (SAHC), has been an important step forward. The LEAH projects have collaborated with SAHCs in training, annual meetings, and program development. Through the coordination of the Konopka Institute at the University of Minnesota, the LEAH projects hope to provide on-going technical assistance to the SAHC Network. The LEAHs are working collaboratively with the National Initiative to Improve Adolescent Health (NIIAH).

Some examples of Innovations among the LEAH projects:  PDF | DOC

Project Directors for the eight currently funded LEAH projects are as follows: