February 10, 2022

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February 10, 2022

COVID-19 Resources

CDC Statement Following ACIP Moderna Vote

On February 4, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for use of Moderna’s Vaccine for people ages 18 years and older.

This recommendation follows FDA’s decision on January 31 to approve the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for people ages 18 years and older. The ACIP recommendation comes more than a year after the committee’s interim recommendation, and after an exhaustive review of the scientific evidence demonstrating safety and effectiveness, and supports the continued use of the now licensed vaccine.

“We now have another fully approved COVID-19 vaccine,” said CDC Director DR. Rochelle Walensky. “If you have been waiting for approval before getting vaccinated, now is the time to join the nearly 212 million Americans who have already completed their primary series. CDC continues to recommend that people remain up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including getting a booster shot when eligible.”

CDC COVID-19 Resources and Webpages

AMCHP COVID-19 Resources and Vaccination Pages

AMCHP is committed to working alongside our federal agency and organizational partners to gather available information, resources, and guidance specific to our MCH population during the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources are on our website (https://amchp.org/covid-19/) for your convenience and are updated regularly as untapped resources become available. Find out more about vaccinating MCH populations to stay up to date on well care during the pandemic here.

AMCHP Announcements

Never miss AMCHP’s updates! Follow us on Twitter (@DC_AMCHP), LinkedIn (Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs), Facebook (AMCHP), and Instagram (@DC_AMCHP).

AMCHP Announces the Launch of Our New Website

At 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.
Stay up to date with the latest in maternal and child health through our articles, blogs, podcasts, and newsletters.
Have handy information about 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.
Visit us using any device.
Connect with us on social media – we are where you are!

Visit us at www.amchp.org.

AMCHP Invites You to ‘Share Your Why’ for our 2022 Annual Conference

AMCHP invites you to help us paint a picture of the modern maternal and child health (MCH) workforce during our 2022 Annual Conference held May 24-26, 2022, in an all-virtual format. We would love to share your perspective on:

Why do you do the work you do in MCH?
What brought you to MCH?
What motivates you?
Why do things need to change to create more equitable opportunities for MCH populations?
Where do your efforts and experiences fit into that change?

Share a short testimonial (video, audio, or written format) by March 7, at 11:59 p.m. EST, using the following link: https://bit.ly/AMCHPSharingYourWhy. AMCHP will share these creatively throughout the 2022 Annual Conference, including during a plenary session where “why” is front and center and through our digital platforms.

For more information, please check out our “Sharing Your Why” flyer or send your questions to Maura Leahy at mleahy@amchp.org.

AMCHP joins the School-Based Health Alliance in celebrating February as National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month

This month, AMCHP joins the School-Based Health Alliance in celebrating February as National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month. At present, approximately 3,000 school-based health centers nationwide provide primary, behavioral, dental, and vision care and other support services to children in poor and underserved urban, rural and suburban communities where they spend the majority of their time – at school. For Title V, SBHCs are a mechanism for partnership to address several child and adolescent health priorities identified in the MCH block grants, such as strategies related to National Performance Measure (NPM) 8 (physical activity), NPM 9 (Bullying), NPM 10 (Adolescent Well-Visits), NPM 11 (Medical Home), and NPM 12 (Transition). In addition, SBHCs serve as the de facto medical home for children and youth if they are accessible via co-location on school campus or next to the school building.

AMCHP is Accepting Applications for Health and Racial Equity Consultant

AMCHP is seeking one qualified consultant and subject matter expert on health and racial equity to support our emergency preparedness and response (EPR) capacity building initiatives for the MCH workforce.

The contracted consultant will audit the Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEP) Checklist for Maternal and Infant Health and provide recommendations for changes and additions that are poised to guide more equitable practices and, ultimately, population-level outcomes. The resulting product will further inform an accredited e-learning course for relevant professionals and other project deliverables. The consultant will work closely with the Program Manager, Emergency Preparedness and Response, and other key staff.

To apply for this consultant opportunity, please see the Request for Application and submit all requested items to Nia Sutton (nsutton@amchp.org) by February 28, 2022, by 11:59 PM EST.

AMCHP is Accepting Applications for the Summer 2022 Graduate Student Epidemiology Program

AMCHP is now accepting applications for the Summer 2022 Graduate Student Epidemiology Program (GSEP). Applications for student interns are being accepted until Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST., and applications for host sites are being accepted, vetted, and approved on a rolling basis through Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST.

This maternal and child health (MCH) leadership program is funded by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) and administered by AMCHP. This program:

Provides paid, 10-week, 100% remote graduate student summer internships to develop leaders in MCH epidemiology
Does not require host sites to incur associated costs; AMCHP covers all intern stipends and site visit expenses
Offers AMCHP’s assistance with intern recruitment and supports host sites throughout the summer.
Allow interns to focus their efforts on agency/organization priorities
Allow staff to gain meaningful mentorship experience.

Additional details about host site applications are offered through an informational webinar recording and on our website. For questions, please contact Maura Leahy at mleahy@amchp.org. Apply to become a host site at https://tinyurl.com/GSEPHostApply.

AMCHP’s Youth Voice Amplified Committee is Generating impact in State MCH and Beyond

In 2021, AMCHP launched Youth Voice Amplified (YVA), our newest association committee. YVA is dedicated to elevating the voices and contributions of young people to the MCH discipline, particularly state Title V/ MCH programs. Just in the past year alone, AMCHP recruited and launched a youth/young-adult-led association committee that models authentic engagement, shares candid perspectives, expresses ideas and solutions, and aims to make their voices heard. This infrastructure at our organization is the foundation of current and future efforts to include all young people’s collective and unique lived experiences, and foster leadership development that advances our programmatic missions and visions.

Just a few ways in which the youth and young adult advisors of the Youth Voice Amplified (YVA) Committee have been involved in our MCH and Title V ecosystem this year included: attending and presenting at national conferences and meetings; designing AMCHP Twitter posts related to vaccines for HRSA’s #WellChildWednesdays; and participating in AYA telehealth discovery/listening sessions.

Youth Voice Amplified has already demonstrated its important role in ensuring the inclusion of youth’s diverse and unique lived experiences in our organization and the broader maternal and child health (MCH) field, through AMCHP’s program and policy activities. As we don’t want the momentum to stall, we have developed a robust workplan for 2022 that focuses on vaccinations and preventive care services; podcasts featuring emerging MCH and other public health priorities affecting community wellbeing; climate change and environmental justice; best practices in data collection efforts from youth and community perspectives; MCH partnership building with other youth-serving organizations; and self-care for the workforce and its stakeholders.

We look forward to working with state Title V and partners to accelerate YVA’s goals to the next level. Please contact us at youthvoice@amchp.org to learn more, share some of your upcoming opportunities, and be connected to a YVA advisor.

Meet the first cohort of Youth Voice Amplified youth and young adult advisors through these video introductions.

AMCHP Chief Government Affairs Officer Amy Haddad Featured in Newly Published National Journal Article

A new article published in the National Journal, ‘Health programs face money crunch with CRs’, features quotes on the importance of a full-year federal budget to Title V activities from AMCHP Chief Government Affairs Officer Amy Haddad. The article, published on February 7^th, highlights the disruption of Continuing Resolutions and the need for full fiscal year federal budgets to ensure the healthy functioning of federal health agencies and programs such as Title V. You can read the full article online at this link.

Check out AMCHP’s recent announcements!

Voices of AMCHP

From our Board of Directors: Kimberly N. Seals, MSPH, MPA, Director-At-Large (2021-2024)

Kimberly Seals is the Director of the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. As Director, Kimberly oversees activities within the Divisions of Children’s Health and Perinatal Services, Women’s Health, and the Division of Children’s and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs. In 2020, she received the AMCHP MCH Emerging Professional award that recognized outstanding state and local MCH professionals under 45 and was subsequently elected to serve as the new Director-At-Large by AMCHP’s Board of Directors. In January 2021, Kimberly was featured in AMCHP’s widely shared publication Bold Voices from the MCH Field: The Urgency of Accompliceship to Advance Racial Justice.

Kimberly received her Master of Public Administration degree from Texas Southern University and her Master of Public Health degree from Meharry Medical College. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She participates on several committees across South Carolina and is passionate about racial/ethnic disparities research and evidence-based programs that minimize the impact of inequities among communities of color.

What motivated you to be part of AMCHP’s Board of Directors?

As I continued to grow in both leadership and expertise in the field of maternal and child health (MCH), it was important that I increased my engagement at the state and national levels. Being a part of AMCHP’s board has allowed me to learn more about the organization and its influence while at the same time engaging with other thought leaders in the field. My time on the board has also allowed me to learn more about what is emerging in the field and how AMCHP is responding.

What inspired you to work in maternal and child health?

I just so happen to stumble into the field of MCH. I started in the CDC’s Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) assigned to the Galveston County Health District. As part of my PHAP assignment, I had the opportunity to start up the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite program. This project sparked my interest to work and learn more with MCH programs. Since then, I have worked with several organizations to implement programs and improve MCH outcomes.

What changes are you excited to see in maternal and child health?

The conversation surrounding healthy equity continues to generate excitement for me. More and more states and organizations are emphasizing the need to imbed an equity lens into the culture and work of public health. The innovation that states are using to address equity is inspiring and I look forward to seeing how it influences system and policy changes going forward.

What piece of advice would you give to a young person interested in working in maternal and child health?

As the workforce continues to evolve, it is important to encourage new grads and current public health professionals to explore MCH as a field of option. I would tell someone interested in MCH to JOIN US! The opportunities for entry-level professionals to learn and grow are vast. I believe there is something for everyone in the field of MCH including epidemiology, policy, health promotion, leadership, and more.

AMCHP Annual Conference

The Latest on the AMCHP 2022 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

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 PM 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 PM 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 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 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

Explore our Maternal Health Bill Tracker for More Information About Pending Federal Legislation to Improve Maternal Health

Two Bills Supporting Early Childhood Services Introduced in the House

Two bills supporting increased federal funding for early childhood services were introduced in the House of Representatives last week. The Early Childhood Mental Health Support Act (H.R.6509) would direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support the implementation of evidence-based mental health programs and interventions in Head Start programs and Early Head Start centers with the goal of promoting children’s long-term social and emotional wellbeing. The second bill, Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act (H.R.6532) would significantly increase the authorized appropriations for Part C and Section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). Federal grants through IDEA Part C provide early intervention services for children ages birth to three years old, and those through IDEA Section 619 provide pre-k services for children ages three to five years old. AMCHP has endorsed both bills.

Bill Increasing Federal Assistance to States for Maternal Health Services Introduced in House

Representative Kathy Manning (D-NC-6) has introduced a bill that would increase federal assistance to states for maternal health services called the Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act (H.R.6612). Specifically, the bill would amend Title XIX of the Social Security Act to raise the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) rate to 90% of the cost for states that increase their expenditures under Medicaid to provide maternal health care services provided throughout pregnancy and for one year postpartum. Eligible programs include prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum services; telehealth services; home visiting services; and behavioral health services. AMCHP, along with several of our national maternal health partners, has endorsed the Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act. You can learn more about the bill on AMCHP’s Maternal Health Bill Tracker.

House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund Federal Government Through March 11

On Tuesday, February 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a stopgap measure to fund the federal government through March 11. The Continuing Resolution (CR) will fund the government at Fiscal Year 2021 levels as lawmakers continue to negotiate a Fiscal Year 2022 budget. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed optimism that a funding deal for the remainder of the fiscal year will be reached within the current three-week timeline.

Opportunities & Funding

Posted Funding Opportunities

Title

Summary

Number & Link

Close Date

Enhancing Systems of Care for Children with Medical Complexity

“Program will support five demonstration projects that will implement and evaluate evidence-informed interventions to advance care for CMC consistent with a patient/family-centered medical home.”

HRSA-22-098

3/7/2022

Tracking the burden, distribution, and impact of Post COVID-19 conditions in diverse populations for children, adolescents, and adults (Track PCC)

“Track and investigate the burden and impact of post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) in diverse populations within the United States through surveillance and long-term follow-up of cohorts.”

CDC-RFA-IP22-2203

3/7/2022

Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program

“The purpose of this program is to expand public health capacity by supporting health care job development, training, and placement in rural and tribal communities.”

HRSA-22-117

3/18/2022

OSERS: OSEP: Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities–Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.325D

“The purposes of this program are to (1) help address State-identified needs for personnel preparation in special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education to work with children, including infants and toddlers, with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined through scientifically based research and experience, to be successful in serving those children.” NOTE: Applicants themselves are colleges/universities or non-profits, but they need to work with state agencies to identify needs.

ED-GRANTS-012522-001

3/28/2022

Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program

“The purpose of the RMOMS program is to improve access to and continuity of maternal and obstetrics care in rural communities.”

HRSA-22-115

4/5/2022

American Rescue Plan Act – Pediatric Mental Health Care Access New Area Expansion

“The purpose of this program is to promote behavioral health integration into pediatric primary care by supporting pediatric mental health care telehealth access programs.”

HRSA-22-121

4/5/2022

Catalysts for Infant Health Equity

“The goals of the new Catalyst for Infant Health Equity program are twofold: 1) to continue reducing overall infant mortality (IM) rates in the United States, and 2) to decrease and ultimately eliminate disparities in IM across racial/ethnic groups by achieving steeper declines for groups with the highest rates. To accomplish these goals, award recipients are expected to address the broader social and structural determinants (or root causes) contributing to IM disparities at the county or jurisdiction1 level.”

HRSA-22-066

4/19/2022

Infant-Toddler Court Program- State Awards

“Continue and expand research-based infant-toddler court teams to change child welfare practices and improve the early developmental health and well-being of infants, toddlers, and their families.”

HRSA-22-073

5/4/2022

Title V Academic-Practice Partnership Fellowship

The National MCH Workforce Development Center announced the first-ever Title V Academic-Practice Partnership Fellowship for one Associate or Assistant level professor at an HRSA/MCHB-funded LEAP, Catalyst, or Center of Excellence in MCH program. This paid, one-year fellowship is an incredible opportunity for one associate or assistant level professor to expand their knowledge and skillset in the areas of Title V and public health. Working directly with a Title V agency on a mutually developed project, National MCH Workforce Development Center hopes to grow sustainable partnerships between an academic institution and Title V.

Key Resources and Information:

FAQ (PDF)
Scoring Criteria (PDF)
Application (PDF)
Online Application (Qualtrics link)
Applications are due by 5 PM ET on March 1, 2022.

If you would like additional information, please reach out to the Academic-Practice Coordinator, Leslie deRosset at derosset@email.unc.edu

AMCHP Career Center: Connecting Talent with Opportunity

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) lists the top jobs available in our industry. Search and apply to open positions or post jobs on AMCHP Career Center! Search for Jobs | Post a Job.

Publications and Resources

CDC New Materials Available for Healthcare Professionals Supporting Pregnant and Postpartum Patients

CDC released a new webpage and suite of materials for healthcare professionals as part of the Hear Her Campaign, which aims to reduce pregnancy-related deaths. According to CDC, over 700 women die every year due to pregnancy-related complications, and two in three deaths are preventable. Healthcare professionals play a critical role in eliminating preventable maternal mortality. The website contains specific information for obstetric providers, pediatric staff, and other healthcare professionals.

Campaign materials include posters, palm cards, shareable graphics, and sample social media content in English and Spanish. Clinical resources and tools from a variety of organizations are also featured. Information for healthcare professionals can be found here.

Link to read the full media statement.

New Resource to Track Progress on the Black Maternal Health Momnibus

The Century Foundation has released a new resource to track progress on the passage of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus is a comprehensive, federal legislative package designed to address the many facets of the Black maternal health crisis in the U.S., including bolstering social determinants of health, maternal mental health, technology, and digital tools, and expanding and diversifying the perinatal workforce. This new resource provides background on each of the twelve bills in the Momnibus, including legislative sponsors, committees of jurisdiction, the status of each piece of legislation is, in addition to other key information. You can engage with the interactive resource or read a PDF version.

Commemorations