Posted: May 1st, 2025

Health & Medical Question

We want you to write a memo to an audience of your choice (e.g., policy makers or other
government officials, peers, MCH
student leaders or MCH Faculty at USF), to convince them of
the importance of a problem in maternal and child health. You also want to persuade them to get
involved in some form of action to address the issue (e.g., participate or join local initiatives,
advocacy, awareness campaign, improve curricula, conduct research in the area, or motivate
action at the policy level).

FINAL MCH MEMO ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES
Short Memo Writing – 1-3 pages, single spaced, APA 7 style
What is a Memo?
There are two reasons for writing a memo: the first is to bring someone’s attention to a problem,
and the second is to solve a problem. Memos are formal documents and need to be written in a
professional manner. Writing a memo is different than writing a term paper. Memos are read by
busy individuals, and they do not want long background sections and flowery language. Memos
are short and very specific. The purpose of a memo is to persuade an individual to do something.
Thus, the writer needs to provide a short and clear analysis of the situation that is balanced and
the writer needs to consider the advantages and disadvantages of any recommended action before
making recommendations. The writer needs to consider the audience and not make
recommendations beyond what that person can do. Thus, the memo writer needs to clearly
consider the recipient of the memo, and the practicalities of any recommendations.
Parts of a Memo
We want you to write a memo to an audience of your choice (e.g., policy makers or other
government officials, peers, MCH student leaders or MCH Faculty at USF), to convince them of
the importance of a problem in maternal and child health. You also want to persuade them to get
involved in some form of action to address the issue (e.g., participate or join local initiatives,
advocacy, awareness campaign, improve curricula, conduct research in the area, or motivate
action at the policy level).
There are distinct parts to writing a memo: a) heading, b) body of the memo, c) attachments.
A)
Heading: The heading identifies who wrote the memo, who it was sent to, the date, and
the subject. Example Heading:
TO: Recipient’s name and title
FROM: Your name and title
DATE: Current Date
SUBJECT: The purpose of the memo
B)
Body of the Memo
This section provides a description of the purpose of the memo, and includes any important
background information, as well as the specific recommended response. You should describe the
background as succinctly as possible but provide sufficient detail. The challenge is to provide
only as much information as is necessary but enough detail so the recipient can understand the
problem. If relevant, you can indicate what you have done so far. You need to close the memo
with a polite ending that clearly indicates what action you want the recipient to take.
C)
File attachments: You can attach any documents needed to provide detailed information
that the recipient may need (e.g., the visuals you developed in the Problem Justification
1
assignment). Attachments should be listed as follows, under the body of the memo (i.e., after the
closing paragraph):
Attached: List the name of the first attachment
Attached: List the name of the second attachment
Requirements for your memo
The student must answer the following questions in his/her memo:
1. What is the problem? Define and explain its significance as a public health problem.
2. How big is the problem (e.g., magnitude, overall trends, statistics)?
3. Who does it affect the most, and why?
4. Why is this problem important to MCH?
5. What local change and/or action do you propose for your peers (or faculty) to do in order
to address this problem, and why? (You can use some of the ideas of “the Advocacy for
Solutions Post” – a previous assignment)
6. What specifically do you want the person reading the memo to do? Why should this
person/group care and why is this topic important to this individual or group of people?
Make your objectives and intended outcomes clear.
Note: You have already written each part of your memo for the Topic Selection and
Statement of the Problem, Problem Justification, and Advocacy for Solutions Post
assignments. Please use these assignments and feedback provided to complete your final
memo.
Formatting, page length and other requirements: The memo length must be between 1-3
pages, not counting references. This means the minimum length must be 1 full page, singlespaced using Arial or Times New Roman 12-point fonts, 1-inch margins.
References and APA requirement: A minimum of 3 references published between 2009present are required. This includes at least 2 peer -reviewed academic journal articles and 1
government or other reputable source with expertise on the topic. Cite your articles within the
body of the memo and write your reference page using the American Psychological Association
(APA) format. Please see the APA guidelines in your textbook and on Canvas; it provides the
basics of APA style that you must follow without having to purchase the APA book.
2
For scholarly journal articles, use databases such as PUBMED, OVID, CINAHL, Google
Scholar, or other databases in the social sciences. https://health.usf.edu/libraries/a-z-healthresources
Grammar and spelling: It is highly advised that you consult the USF Writing Center for
assistance in constructing your paper https://www.usf.edu/undergrad/academic-successcenter/writing-studio/
** Never submit a first draft as a final draft. Always have someone else read your paper to
review for content (are you answering the questions above) and grammar. **
3
TO: Faculty in Maternal and Child Health at the University of South Florida
FROM: Student’s name and title were removed for confidentiality
DATE: July 18, 2022
SUBJECT: Address Concerns in Fatherhood
Fatherhood is an essential aspect of child upbringing and parental support to mothers. Fathers
hold an important responsibility in public health. Present father figures have behavioral benefits
and a positive impact on familial mental health. Children with present fathers are less inclined to
fall into dangerous habits and suffer from mental health conditions. It is important in today’s
impactful society to provide support to fathers and positively impact the lives of the family
through proper guidance.
In public health, the issue with fatherhood is the lack of a present and nurturing role. A widely
spread misconception across generations is that fathers have equated to being monetary providers
(Ives, 2014). However, according to publications and research, fathers are equivalent in parental
responsibilities to mothers in terms of raising children (Berlin et al., 2020). There is a strong
emphasis on having a present father figure in a child’s life since it impacts their mental wellbeing
and growth. A father is a necessary role that directly impacts the lives of mothers and children.
The issue is a deep-rooted societal expectation that has improperly influenced the lives of fathers
and led them in the direction of becoming absent parents.
According to the National Fatherhood Initiative (2021), around 19.5 million children live
without a father in the home (please see attachment). The problem affects around 1 in every 4
children across the United States (National Fatherhood Initiative, 2021). The lack of a present
father figure in the home has a multitude of mental health and other behavioral impacts on
children and mothers. Fathers play a role in Maternal and Child Health, unmarried women have
infant mortality rates that are 1.8 times higher than married women (National Fatherhood
Initiative, 2021). Pregnant women with a father’s support are likely to experience a lower
chance of pregnancy loss than expecting mothers without a father figure (National Fatherhood
Initiative, 2021). It is crucial to have new fathers be involved in the care process of their
children. Having present fathers have several positive long-term benefits for children.
The issue of fatherhood is important to maternal and child health because the absence of a father
has detrimental effects on family dynamics and overall health. Mothers, children, and fathers are
all impacted by fatherhood. Unfortunately, fathers are stigmatized as being monetary providers
that cause pressure on men which leads to abandonment or lack of responsibility in parent care
(Ives, 2014). This has been an issue for decades and with minor changes or focuses on the issue,
it will continue to be a problem in the future. It is important to create a system of support to have
men view fatherhood positively and be present for their families.
In recent news, Roe v. Wade has been overturned which equally affects mothers, and fathers
with the pressures of forced parenthood. The overturn of this huge case has disastrously
impacted issues regarding maternal and child health, including fatherhood. Already issues in
fatherhood have negative impacts on child development and family dynamics. Fathers who
abandon their families are more likely to cause their children to be in poverty, develop
behavioral issues, and lead to high-stress home life in other aspects as well (Berlin et al., 2020).
This abandonment includes fathers who do not accept responsibility for parenting as well which
directly applies stress to mothers.
In public health, the responsibility of a father is oversimplified and requires better support on
how to properly assume this role in maternal and child health. A resolution to issues in
fatherhood is to broadcast information and offer systems of support for fathers in need of
guidance (Niland & Selekman, 2020). Providing resources to fathers on how to properly provide
and care for their families in the same manner we provide mothers with support and information
is an effective way to begin resolving the issue (Niland & Selekman, 2020). Instructing new
fathers, on the proper ways to support a family and raise a child which includes creating healthy
family dynamics is an important aspect of providing information on fatherhood.
I implore the faculty of maternal and child health here at USF to consider implementing
educational resources on fatherhood. Fathers are key factors in maternal and child health and
have long-term health impacts on mothers and children. The Center of Excellence in Maternal
and Child Health focuses on promoting health equity-focused around family well-being. In the
MCH program implementing educational material on promoting positive support for fatherhood
would benefit the public health communities.
Attached: Fatherhood Infographic
References
Berlin, A., Rosander, M., Frykedal, K. F., Törnkvist, L., & Barimani, M. (2020). Fatherhood
group sessions: A descriptive and summative qualitative study. Nursing & Health Sciences,
22(4), 1094–1102. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12776
Ives, J. (2014). Men, maternity, and moral residue: Negotiating the moral demands of the
transition to first time fatherhood. Sociology of Health & Illness, 36(7), 1003–1019.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12138
National Fatherhood Initiative (2021). Father involvement programs for organizations and
families. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://www.fatherhood.org/
Niland, K., & Selekman, R. (2020). Challenges and successes of Pregnancy Assistance Fund
programs supporting young fathers. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 24(Suppl 2),
178–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02923-5
TO: Faculty in Maternal and Child Health at the University of South Florida
FROM: Student’s name and title were removed for confidentiality
DATE: December 7, 2022
SUBJECT: Importance of Balanced School Meals in Public Schools
Balanced school meals occupy an essential role for childhood growth, development, and learning
by providing a stable energy source and aiding in maintaining a healthy weight, improving
mental health, and preventing the development of chronic diseases. School meal programs prove
to be beneficial in boosting students learning abilities, alleviating time constraints in working
families by reducing the demand to prepare balanced meals, and addressing food insecurity,
especially amongst families that are low-income or reside in rural or underserved communities.
Students who participate in school meal programs have been shown to score higher on
standardized tests and attend more days of school per year than their counterparts. Providing a
balanced meal and healthy food choices in schools is imperative to the growth, development, and
health of children and their families.
In public health, the high prevalence of food insecurity and chronic conditions are of high
importance. Food insecurity can impede physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development in
children, resulting in poor outcomes, and can pose a negative influence on maternal mental
health, including high levels of stress. There is an estimated two billion people who suffer from
food insecurity, 13.1 million of which are children in the United States (Gallegos et al., 2021).
The result of food insecurity is inadequate nutrition which has been shown to directly correlate to
decreased neurocognitive development in children. Studies have shown there to be a direct
association between nutritional intake, specifically micronutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids,
vitamin B12, folic acid, choline, iron, iodine, and zinc, and neurocognitive development in
children through cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and neurotransmitter and hormone
metabolism (Nyaradi et al., 2013). Many low-income students rely on school meal programs as a
primary source of nutrition. In the 2014-2015 school year, more than half (58.4%) of students
were eligible to receive free or reduced lunch (Snyder et al., 2018).
While many schools offer some form of school meal program, whether that be a combination of
breakfast and lunch or lunch alone, the food options often lack nutritious substance. Many
companies, such as Tyson Foods Inc., Pilgrims Pride Corporation, and Cherry Meat Packers Inc.
receive large profits from offering unhealthy food options to school meal programs, comprising
of unhealthy, heavily processed, and factory-farmed animal products. The oversaturation of these
food options can increase students’ likelihood of developing chronic conditions and obesity.
Obesity is an epidemic affecting our nation’s children and is further exacerbated by unhealthy
food choices, including inadequate meals supplied by school meal programs.
Healthy and balanced school meal programs are an essential component to maternal and child
health. These programs help alleviate the stress of preparing balanced meals that is placed on
mothers and families. For low-income families, providing nutritious meals and snacks is not
always feasible, therefore, they heavily rely on free or reduced meal benefits to participate in
school meal programs. Children who participate in these programs depend on the deliverance of
substantial meals in accordance with their recommended nutritional intakes to ensure adequate
growth and development. Balanced and nutritious school meals aid in preventing the prevalence
of chronic conditions, such as obesity and diabetes in children and families.
To combat the epidemic of obesity and boost childhood growth and development, healthy,
balanced school meal programs should be prioritized. Schools should be regularly monitored to
ensure they are offering fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk options as
per the national Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Sanchez-Vaznaugh et al., 2021).
Additionally, increased funding and selectively choosing school meal vendors can help resolve
the high prevalence of unhealthy school meals. California has already made efforts to ban sugary
beverages and offer only milk, water, 100% juice, juices with at least 50% juice and no added
sweeteners, and sports drinks in schools. Federal mandates should be set in place to encourage
these restrictions amongst all schools throughout the United States. Further restrictions, such as
limiting the sale of candies and food items containing high amounts of trans fats, should also be
encouraged.
I encourage the faculty of maternal and child health here at the University of South Florida to get
involved in their local communities to improve school meal programs. Consider advocating to
your local school districts the importance of offering healthy, balanced food choices to students.
While adequate nutrition is imperative to maternal and child health, encompassing childhood
growth and development, balanced nutrition doesn’t stop at adulthood and should also be
encouraged at the collegiate level. Reach out to campus officials and relay the importance of
nutrition and high prevalence of chronic conditions, such as obesity to encourage the
implementation of healthier food options in your school canteens.
Attached: Importance of school meals (1).pdf Infographic
References
Gallegos, D., Eivers, A., Sondergeld, P., & Pattinson, C. (2021). Food insecurity and child
development: A state-of-the-art review. International Journal of Environmental Research
and Public Health, 18(17), 8990. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18178990
Nyaradi, A., Li, J., Hickling, S., Foster, J., & Oddy, W. H. (2013). The role of nutrition in
children’s neurocognitive development, from pregnancy through childhood. Frontiers in
Human Neuroscience, 7, Article 97. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00097
Sanchez-Vaznaugh, E. V., Matsuzaki, M., Braveman, P., Acosta, M. E., Alexovitz, K., Sallis, J.
F., Peterson, K. E., & Sánchez, B. N. (2021). School nutrition laws in the US: Do they
influence obesity among youth in a racially/ethnically diverse state? International Journal
of Obesity, 45(11), 2358–2368. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00900-8
Snyder, T.D., de Brey, C., and Dillow, S.A. (2018). Digest of Education Statistics 2016 (NCES
2017-094). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S.
Department of Education. Washington, DC. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2017/2017094.pdf