#UMNMCH student Kaydee Johnson (MPH 2026) describes her deployment with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and how this experience strengthened her dedication to achieving equitable health systems while equipping her with the necessary tools to address health needs in historically marginalized communities. 

Path to the UMN MPH in MCH Program

I completed a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Community Health Education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Through this program, I developed a strong passion for prevention, social determinants of health, and equitable access to health services. Across experiences abroad and in the classroom, I learned how devoted I am to female empowerment and supporting children and families. Additionally, I had the opportunity to study women’s health and psychology in Chiang Mai, Thailand where we examined cross-cultural comparisons in health care systems and foundations that support women experiencing domestic violence. This was a full circle experience when I returned to the states and my team wrote a grant proposal for the foundation to continue to provide services to single mothers and women. This was one of many experiences that solidified my perspective that children and families are the foundation for a healthy community. I was eager to learn more perspectives to approaching health in various communities and broaden my skill set to promote prevention strategies. In order to enrich and challenge my understanding of the changing world, I decided to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) focusing on Maternal and Child Health (MCH).  

Learning in Practice at DHS

At the beginning of my MCH Program, I had the opportunity to work at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) in the Office of the Medicaid Medical Director as my student deployment. This team serves Minnesotans via clinical oversight on Medicaid and MinnesotaCare programs, addresses health disparities, and ensures appropriate resource distribution. My role was to support the teams’ projects using Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards, participate in meetings with community partners, and engage in professional development. The L.I.F.E Framework, including leadership, interdisciplinary, family centered, and equity, helped guide my engagement with the DHS team. L.I.F.E. ‘s method allowed me to practice communication, cultural competence, and interprofessional team building which are three core competencies in the MCH field.  My connection to this work and my teammates presented another opportunity further into my MPH degree. Ultimately,  I worked with this team to achieve my applied practice experience requirements including a site-specific report and a request for proposal (RFP). 

Site-Specific Report

During the site-specific report portion of my practice experience, I collaborated on our Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) report which covers nutrition support, housing support, case management, and violence prevention, and was created for the Minnesota legislature to address unmet HRSN. I developed a policy brief within the report to support and improve MCH through a CLAS lens in Minnesota. The target population of this report are members of Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCPs), especially populations with low income. Targeting this population will hopefully provide support to Minnesotans seeking care in the state’s health system, even more so for those who have complex, chronic, and costly care needs.

Request for Proposal

For the second product, I developed language for Minnesota community-based organizations, tribal organizations, tribal nations, and faith-based groups to use for grant applications. The money these organizations receive will be used for in-person events promoting healthcare coverage options and community wellbeing. The goal is for these events to provide a space where individuals and families can connect with social and community support, access resources, and discuss coverage through MHCPs, ultimately improving population health and advancing health equity for historically under-resourced communities.

Through my deployment at DHS, I learned how policy, community engagement, and culturally responsive frameworks come together to advance MCH in meaningful ways. I strengthened my ability to communicate across disciplines and translate public health principles into actionable policy. Moving forward, I will carry these skills into my career by prioritizing community-informed approaches and advocating for systems that better serve populations who have historically been under-resourced. What I will remember most is the value of collaboration with both colleagues and community partners to create sustainable change. I hope other students take away the importance of engaging with the communities they serve and recognizing that impactful public health work happens at the intersection of policy, practice, and lived experience.

BIO

Kaydee is a second-year MCH MPH student. She received her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in 2024.

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