Naomi Schapiro Receives Grant to Support East Bay Children with Chronic Conditions

Naomi Schapiro, RN, PhD, professor in the UCSF School of Nursing and project director of UCSF Elev8, was awarded a three-year Advanced Nursing Education Grant to fund interprofessional training of students and graduate trainees in the collaborative care of children with mental health conditions and obesity in Alameda County.

Pediatric and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students, graduate trainees in social work and trainees at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland’s Department of Psychiatry will be trained. The funding came from the Interprofessional Nurse Practitioner Education for the Collaborative Care of Children with Chronic Conditions or INPEC5.

"We're thrilled that we'll be able to continue our partnerships in Alameda County to support the provision of high quality care to underserved youth," Schapiro said.

Naomi Schapiro, RN, PhD

INPEC5 addresses the current gap in care of underserved children with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) through enhanced interprofessional nurse practitioner education and training of a diverse pediatric health care provider work force. Access to quality care for children living with MCC, including behavioral health conditions and childhood obesity, is the primary challenge facing the pediatric health care workforce and represents an urgent need for children living in underserved communities.

The UCSF Elev8 Project, which strives to bring together schools, families, and communities in underserved populations to ensure students succeed in school and life, is aligned with goals of INPEC5.

Children with behavioral conditions and obesity need expert treatment by health professionals who understand their complex physical, cognitive and social development and are working in an interdisciplinary model of care. Nurse practitioners who participate in interprofessional collaborative practice early in their training will be able to perform in and lead IPCP teams, enhancing access to quality health care services for children with MCC in underserved communities.

Additionally, INPEC5 will allow for collaborative training with the CHO psychiatry department and CSU East Bay Social Work.