Back to Member Briefs

February 1, 2022

New Year… New Website!

At the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP), we strive to enhance how you interact with us and offer you the best experience on all our platforms. We are excited to announce that our new website is live! With our newly refreshed website, you can:

Easily navigate to the content you want when you need it.
Learn the latest in maternal and child health (MCH) through our blogs, podcasts, and newsletters.
Discover how the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant works in each state and territory through AMCHP’s State Title V Profiles.
See our upcoming activities through our new events calendar.
Access the Innovation Hub, MCH Innovation Database, and all AMCHP resources in one place.
Connect with the right person at AMCHP using our new contact form.
Visit us using any device.
Connect with us on social media – we are where you are!
Stay up to date with careers opportunities at AMCHP.
Enjoy a timeless yet modern design that enhances your experience with our website.

This special edition of Member Briefs focuses on highlighting our new content structure. Let us walk you through it!

About Us

National Resource, Partner & Advocate

African American mother and daughter smiling at home.

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) is a national resource, partner, and advocate for state public health leaders who work and support state maternal and child health programs, and others working to improve the health of women, infants, children, youth, parents, families, and communities.

Are you looking to get more involved with AMCHP? Join one of our committees!

One benefit of being an active AMCHP member is the opportunity to participate as a volunteer leader on AMCHP’s Association Committees. AMCHP committees assist the organization in carrying out its mission, goals, and strategic plan. As a committee member, you will be playing an essential role in developing AMCHP’s program and policy activities. At the same time, volunteering on an AMCHP committee offers you rich professional development opportunities and potentially provides a future pathway towards more significant leadership roles in this organization.

Call for volunteers

Did you know that you can support our efforts and reach our members?

AMCHP receives generous support from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Commonwealth Fund, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in addition to the dues paid by AMCHP members. AMCHP offers several ways to support our efforts and reach our members:

Learn about career opportunities at AMCHP!

AMCHP is a dynamic and energetic team comprised of MCH subject matter experts and individuals passionate about building a nation that values and invests in the health and well-being of women, infants, children, youth, parents, families, and communities so that they may thrive. We take specific and focused action to center anti-racism in our work and be assets for health equity and racial justice.

View available job openings

Our Members

Small girl elbow bumping with a pediatrician while greeting at the clinic during coronavirus pandemic.

AMCHP members come from the highest levels of state government. They include directors of maternal and child health programs, directors of programs for children with special health care needs, and other public health leaders who work and support state maternal and child health programs. AMCHP’s membership also includes academic, advocacy, community-based family health professionals, adolescent health coordinators, program managers, epidemiologists, family leaders, people with lived experience with the challenges AMCHP endeavors to solve, as well as families themselves.

Member Benefits | Membership Types | Become a Member

Topics

Mixed race parents giving piggyback ride to their children outdoor. Portrait of happy African mother and Indian father with daughters looking at the camera outside house. Smiling and joyful family standing with their beautiful little girls.

AMCHP builds successful programs by disseminating best practices, providing technical assistance, and convening leaders to share experiences and ideas to reach our common goal of healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities.

Policy & Advocacy

The United States Capitol Rotunda. Senate and Representatives government home in Washington D.C.

We advocate in support of federal programs to improve the health of women, children, and their families. AMCHP works with federal agencies, Members of Congress and their staff, and partners to garner support for the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant and other MCH programs. AMCHP is proud to serve as our members’ eyes, ears, and voices in Washington, DC.

Government Affairs | Promoting Coverage | Legislative Alerts | Maternal Health Bill Tracker

Resources

Your destination for the latest in Maternal and Child Health

Shot of an unrecognizable man writing in a notebook while working from home.

AMCHP provides maternal and child health (MCH) professionals and advocates with toolkits, webinars, publications, and other products created by AMCHP Program Staff and partners that inform your public health practice and support you in serving MCH populations and their communities.

Resources Library | COVID-19 Resources | Innovation HUB | Title V Resources

Title V State Profiles

AMCHP’s State Profiles summarizes how the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant works in each state and territory. Each profile details the federal Title V funds appropriated to each state; highlights specific programs funded with Title V dollars; and summarizes the number of pregnant women, infants under one, children and adolescents, children with special health care needs, and others served by the Title V MCH Services Block Grant. Each profile also highlights state MCH needs, key grants that are supported by Title V in the state or territory, and lists contact information for the state’s Title V Program.

Learn more

News

Supporting our mission one step at a time

Stay up to date! We are happy to provide the latest news in maternal and child health (MCH) in various formats.

News Releases | Blogs & Podcasts | Pulse Newsletters | Member Briefs

Events

Connected through our common goal

Blurred Conference.

Join our upcoming events and connect with other maternal and child health (MCH) leaders and thinkers.

Upcoming Events

The AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference

The AMCHP Annual Conference is one of the country’s largest gatherings of MCH professionals. In 2021, more than 1,300 people attended the conference virtually from nearly every state/territory/jurisdiction in the United States, including directors of programs, federal officials, advocates, family leaders, researchers, and health care providers.

Get in Touch

Your Connection to AMCHP!

We are here to help! Please fill out our contact form if you have any questions or feedback. Your message will reach the right contact at AMCHP.

Latest Updates

AMCHP Innovation HUB

Be a Part of AMCHP’s Replication Projects!

Do you have a priority or strategy in your State Action Plan that you aren’t sure how to operationalize? Are you interested in building partnerships with MCH organizations while enhancing your organizational capacity? Consider participating in AMCHP’s Replication Projects for the 2022-2023 project year! Every year, AMCHP offers awards for organizations and agencies to replicate evidence-based/-informed practices from the MCH Innovations Database. AMCHP’s Replication Projects are also an excellent opportunity to:

Receive tailored technical assistance and support to build your state’s or organization’s capacity to implement an Innovation Hub practice;
Start adapting a practice to your local context; and
Strengthen and develop partnerships with relevant organizations to address priority needs.

Format and structure: This project provides two technical assistance tracks depending on your organization’s level of readiness to replicate a practice. The Capacity Building Track focuses on capacity building and developing the infrastructure necessary to implement a chosen practice. The Implementation Track provides support to begin the actual implementation of a practice. Both tracks operate as cohorts, with participants receiving TA in the form of quarterly webinars which focus on specific tools and pieces of training aligned with the Implementation Stages Framework.

Want to learn more about this opportunity?

Visit our Innovation Hub page and watch an overview of the Replication Projects. Next, review the Replication Project Readiness Statements to apply.

Ready to apply? Click to sign up for an initial conversation with AMCHP. Please email us at evidence@amchp.org for any questions.

AMCHP Annual Conference

AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference is Rescheduled to May 24-26 in an All-Virtual Format

First, thank you for your support and patience as we continue to navigate the current environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Omicron variant.

Out of concern for the health and safety of our attendees and due to travel restrictions brought on by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, AMCHP’s annual conference initially scheduled for March will be postponed and converted to an all-virtual format. The new dates will be May 24-26, 2022. The conference theme continues to be “Reflecting on our Past, Shaping our Future.”

Information on refunds for in-person registrations will be sent directly to registered attendees. If you have not yet registered for AMCHP 2022, registration is open (Register Here).

Last year’s meeting, also held virtually, was one of AMCHP’s most successful conferences with over 1,300 participants from nearly every state/territory/jurisdiction in the United States. We feel the same will result with AMCHP 2022. Here are just some of the many reasons to register:

Gain a firsthand opportunity to learn about changes occurring in the MCH field, such as federal and state policies and health systems transformation.
Conference session topics will include ensuring equity in systems and services, building and strengthening partnerships, and practicing effective family and youth engagement.
Exchange best practices and resources with other MCH professionals, creating stronger and bolder ideas for the future.
Participate in Workshops, roundtables (both with live Q&A), and posters featuring a mix of topics and contents.
Be part of timely themed live-streamed plenary sessions led by association leadership.
Participate in discussion and small-group networking video groups with speakers, AMCHP staff, and fellow attendees.
All content will be recorded for exclusive access on demand by registered participants after the conference.

For more information, visit the AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference website. We can’t wait to see you virtually!

AMCHP Events & Webinars

Graduate Student Epidemiology Program Informational Webinar for Graduate Students

AMCHP is hosting an informational webinar on Wednesday, February 2, from 3:00-3:45 p.m. EST for graduate students interested in applying to the 2022 Graduate Student Epidemiology Program.

The webinar will:

Introduce GSEP and program components
Describe the intern experience and expectations
Walk you through the application process and timeline
Discuss intern benefits
Feature a live Q&A session with several 2021 GSEP alumni

Register for the webinar at: https://bit.ly/GSEPStudentWebinar. The webinar will be recorded with live closed captioning. For questions, please get in touch with Maura Leahy (mleahy@amchp.org).

Social Media Training for MCH Professionals by AMCHP & ASTHO

AMCHP and ASTHO are pleased to announce their two-part webinar, “Social Media Training for MCH Professionals,” presented by communications expert Morra Aarons-Mele. The first session on February 15 from 3-4 p.m. ET, Platforms for a Purpose, will focus on the various social media channels used by public health professionals, the reach and audience of these platforms, and how to understand your unique ecosystem online. The second session on February 22 from 3-4 p.m. ET, Campaigns that Count will focus on conducting a public health campaign from start to finish, what to consider for the campaign, determining audience, and how to track metrics and understand success. Participants can also sign up for office hours with Morra. Register using the following link: https://bit.ly/MCHsocialmedia.

AMCHP Information & Resources

New Tools for MMRCs: Identifying and Discussing Racism

The Maternal Mortality Review Information Application (MMRIA) Racism & Discrimination Work Group recently published a paper detailing their process of developing a working definition of racism for use with Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRC). The diverse multidisciplinary committee of experts underwent a five-step process, culminating in the development of three working definitions (for Structural racism, interpersonal racism, and discrimination) and recommendations to support MMRC members in identifying and discussing racism with the review process and their development of preventative interventions. More information about the article can be found here.

AMCHP Mental Health Corner

Mental health is an important component of well-being for women and children. To recognize its importance, we will use this space to highlight resources for maternal, child, and adolescent health (MCAH) professionals to support their mental health, as well as the mental health of those they serve. Read more about AMCHP’s organizational work on mental health and substance use here.

In February, AMCHP will be sharing resources to support Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and Black History Month. Mental Health America has compiled resources highlighting contributions to the mental health movement from Black and African American individuals, as well as resources to learn about the history of systemic racism in the mental health system. Be sure to follow AMCHP on Twitter (@dc_amchp) for original and valuable partner content that demonstrates mental and emotional health and well-being as integral to overall health.

Interested in receiving more information on what’s happening related to mental health/substance use and MCH? Sign-up for the PRISM Digest, our monthly mental health/substance use newsletter, by sending an email to jcohen@amchp.org and check out the #AMCHPMentalHealth hashtag on Twitter. Have questions or want to learn more? Contact the mental health team at mentalhealth@amchp.org.

AMCHP National Policy Calls

AMCHP National MCH COVID-19 Townhall Series

Thanks to those of you who joined us on the January 6 webinar. The link to the recording is available here. The next call in this series is February 10, 2022, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. Please use this link to register. For follow-up materials and resources from previous calls, please be sure to check out AMCHP’s COVID-19 page.

Legislation & Policy

Updates on the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations and the Build Back Better Act

Negotiations continue on both the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) appropriations and the Build Back Better Act. On the appropriations front, the federal government is currently funded through a Continuing Resolution (CR) at Fiscal Year 2021 funding levels through February 18. The proposed budgets from both the House and Senate include significant investments in the Title V Block Grant. Republicans and Democrats across the two chambers are now negotiating final appropriations language ahead of the February deadline. Meanwhile, the Build Back Better Act (BBB) remains stalled in the Senate as moderate and progressive Democratic lawmakers consider a pared-down version of the House-passed bill. As currently written, the legislation includes historic investments in maternal and child health, including mandatory 12-month postpartum coverage under Medicaid, a permanent extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), 4-weeks of paid family leave, and several provisions of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus.

Opportunities & Funding

Call for Abstracts: Reproductive Wellness for Women with Chronic Conditions

With sponsorship from The WK Kellogg Foundation, Health Services Research (HSR), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), Jordan Institute for Families and the UNC Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health are partnering to publish a series of special sections of upcoming issues focused on reproductive wellness for women with chronic conditions. They are seeking to curate a series of articles, to be published in a special section across several regular HSR issues, that will highlight work being done across a variety of sectors — health care, public health, social work, community leadership, maternal and child health, chronic disease, and others — that offer solutions and strategies toward improving care. The deadline for abstract submissions is February 4. Abstracts may not exceed 300 words and must be formatted as indicated in the HSR Author Guidelines. For more information, please visit HRS | Call for Abstracts.

HHS Racial Equity in Postpartum Care Challenge: Innovative Methods to Improve Postpartum Care for Black African American and American Indian/Alaska Native Women

The HHS Office of Women’s Health (OWH) is seeking innovative ways to improve postpartum care for Black or African American, and American Indian or Alaska Native low-income beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The goal of this competition is to:

Emphasize follow-up care for conditions associated with morbidity and mortality in the later postpartum period, including diabetes, postpartum depression and/or postpartum anxiety, hypertension, and substance disorders (SUD); and
Identify effective programs that can address equity and increase access to, attendance at, and quality care for postpartum visits for Black or African American and AI/AN beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.

Phase I of the competition aims to identify effective programs that range in their design and range geographically. The OWH will also host a webinar on January 31, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. ET. Visit the Racial Equity in Postpartum Care Challenge Website.

Publications & Resources

New Guide Helps Ensure Patients and Families are Fairly Compensated for Partnering with Research Teams

The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs National Research Network (CYSHCNet), and the advocacy group Family Voices have created comprehensive guidance on how to compensate youth, families, or patients that agree to be co-investigator in a research study. The Standards of Compensation for Youth, Family, and Patient Partners helps youth, families, and patients better understand the levels of support, compensation, and reimbursement they can expect to receive. It also helps researchers and funders by outlining sample budgets and ranges of compensation. The guide is available as a free resource through CYSHCNet. There is a version for investigators and a version for research partners, available in English and Spanish. Click here to download the guide.

Commemorations

Recent Member Brief Issues

Stay up to date! Follow us on Twitter (@DC_AMCHP), LinkedIn (AMCHP DC), Facebook (AMCHP) and Instagram (@DC_AMCHP).

Check out our recent Member Briefs issue from January 21, 2021.