May 9, 2022 - AMCHP

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May 9, 2022

COVID-19 Resources

CDC Reports COVID-19 Was Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S.

Two reports released in today’s MMWR use CDC’s National Vital Statistics System to look at death rates in the United States and find that differences in death rates still remain between certain racial and ethnic minority groups.

The first report provides an overview of provisional U.S. mortality data for 2021, including a comparison of death rates for all causes of death and for deaths involving COVID-19. The second report shows that from 2020 to 2021, differences in COVID-19 death rates decreased among most racial and ethnic groups.

The results of both studies highlight the need for greater effort to implement effective interventions. We must work to ensure equal treatment in all communities in proportion to their need for effective interventions that can prevent excess COVID-19 deaths.

Read the full statement at this link.

Recent CDC News

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 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 our updates! Sign up for our newsletters here, and follow us on Twitter (@DC_AMCHP), LinkedIn (Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs), Facebook (AMCHPofficial), and Instagram (@DC_AMCHP).

Statement by AMCHP CEO Terrance E. Moore on the Draft Majority Opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

On May 5, Terrance E. Moore, CEO of the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, issued the following statement in response to the leaked draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:

“As our nation comes to grips with the potential upending of Roe v. Wade, public health professionals must consider the known consequences of curtailing access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion care. To be clear, reproductive rights are human rights. A core tenet of reproductive justice, first defined by Black women in 1994, is that all people have the right to have children; the right to not have children; and the right to nurture the children we have in safe and healthy communities. Undoing the legal protections of Roe v. Wade is a direct assault on reproductive justice and on the public’s health.

“Access to abortion care is inextricably linked to maternal health. The United States is already failing to adequately support healthy births and healthy families. We have the highest rate of maternal deaths among industrialized countries. Poor maternal health outcomes disproportionately impact women and birthing people with low incomes, women and birthing people of color, and women and birthing people in rural communities. Our systems and policies fail these individuals at every turn, and it is these individuals who will experience the most harm if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

“This is not the time to look away or be silent. If AMCHP is to live up to our commitments to racial equity, health equity, and undoing systemic racism, this is a time that we must stand up and call out the harm that the draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization would do to maternal and child health. We call on the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Roe v. Wade and reiterate our commitment to actively advocate against any policy or program that perpetuates inequity and racial disadvantage.”

Use this link to read the full statement.

NEW MCH Bridges Podcast Episode

Preparing for the Unexpected: Lessons from MCH Emergency Preparedness & Response Efforts

Our newest MCH Bridges episode is now live! Episode 4 – “Preparing for the Unexpected: Lessons from MCH Emergency Preparedness & Response Efforts.”

In this episode, our guest speakers discuss emergency preparedness as essential to keeping families safe and promoting health and well-being in challenging situations. Learn how Tennessee has intentionally centered communities of color in response efforts and Puerto Rico’s experience facing emergencies like Zika, Hurricane Maria, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Share with your peers and listen to this and other episodes on www.mchbridges.org, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Overcast.

Why tune in to MCH Bridges?

MCH Bridges is designed to help our listeners create new connections to MCH leaders, organizations, and ideas. We aim to inspire and guide listeners towards actions that will improve the systems that impact MCH populations. 

Who should listen to MCH Bridges?

MCH Bridges is designed for Title V MCH & CYSHCN leaders, state and jurisdictional health department staff, individuals with lived experience and their families, MCH faculty and students, public health professionals, and others wanting to learn more about supporting MCH populations and equitable systems of care. 

We’d like to hear from you! Complete this short survey to share input and let us know who or what you’d like to hear about on future episodes. If you have any questions or suggestions about the podcast, please contact Maura Leahy (mleahy@amchp.org). 

AMCHP Invites you to our Annual Business Meeting held on May 18 Virtually

AMCHP invites our members, partners, and other interested stakeholders to our Annual Business meeting, to be held on May 18, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT. Join us to recognize transitioning Board Members and welcome 2022 Officers! Register at www.bit.ly/AMCHP22BM.

AMCHP Invites our Members to a Virtual Coffee with Our CEO

Members of AMCHP, please join our CEO, Terrance E. Moore, for a casual and virtual conversation over coffee. Learn more about him and his vision and discuss the challenges you have experienced, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how AMCHP can continue supporting you.

We would love for you to join one of the two open sessions below! All sessions will be held on Zoom and will be 45 minutes long.

June 1, at 2:30 PM EDT (Register)

Session registration is capped at thirty, so register today!

Follow AMCHP’s CEO on Twitter at @AMCHP_CEO. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@amchp.org.

AMCHP Annual Conference

The Latest on the AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference

AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference is approaching!

We are so excited for you to join in one of the largest gatherings of maternal and child health leaders and thinkers. This event will be held virtually May 24-26 featuring a variety of avenues for engagement and growth. Last year’s meeting, also held virtually, was one of AMCHP’s most successful conferences with over 1,300 participants. We feel the same will result with the 2022 conference. This year’s theme is Reflecting our Past, Shaping our Future which was inspired by previous attendee input and the ongoing and increasing adversity that individuals in the maternal and child health field have faced. Throughout the plenary sessions, we will hear from speakers that will take us into what we can learn from the past, how it shapes the reasons for our actions in the present, and why this understanding is vital for us to create a better future together. Highlight the multiple ways in which their journeys to the MCH field enhance and strengthen the overall MCH workforce.

By attending the conference, you will…

Gain a firsthand opportunity to learn about changes occurring in the MCH field
Engage with session topics that 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
Participate in workshops, student roundtables, and posters featuring a mix of content
Be part of timely themed live-streamed plenary sessions led by association leadership
Get involved in small-group networking and discussion with speakers, AMCHP staff, and fellow attendees
Have exclusive on-demand access to conference sessions, flexible enough to compliment any schedule Interested in attending?

NEW THIS YEAR!

Opportunities for intentional virtual networking, including sessions for first-time attendees
See the full schedule in your local time zone
Reformatted virtual exhibit groups that are FULL of resources and a scavenger hunt prize
MORE conference tracks centered around equity

Excited to attend and have access to the on-demand sessions? REGISTER NOW! For more detailed information about the conference, please visit our conference website.

AMCHP Sharing Your Why Testimonials

At AMCHP, we recognize that these past couple of years have put a strain on public health workers. So, we asked maternal and child (MCH) professionals to share their WHY to amplify their testimonials throughout our Sharing Your Why plenary session at AMCHP 2022. 

We wanted to hear from you about what continues to motivate you in your work, what brought you to the MCH field, what your work entails, and how we can create more equitable opportunities for MCH populations. Check out these inspiring testimonials from our MCH community!

“Coming from a medical Sociology background, maternal and child health is an area of study that both fascinates me and that I find inherently tied to women’s issues. The inherent inequalities that exist in gender, class, and wealth directly correlate with maternal and child health issues. The capitalist structure of US’s society does not help secure stable health access for many women and children across the country, especially considering nearly 14% of the nation lives in poverty. The for-profit institution that is the US health system directly harms women, children, and families as well as their access to stable, affordable, and secure healthcare. My interest in this field stems from my knowledge that women and children, especially black and minority women and children, are ostracized in both the welfare and medical institutions, which also has negative repercussions on their socioeconomic standing. Having poor health can reduce one’s chances of finding stable employment and housing, leading to a cycle of structural violence, rooted in poverty and instability.” 

Briana Leone

“I am an internal medicine and pediatrics trained physician and I’ve always enjoyed my work with children, families, and really thinking about health impacts across the life course. My journey in public health began back in 2012 as a Title V children and youth with special healthcare needs director here in Texas. Since that time, I have taken on other roles within my public health career with maternal and child health, continuing to be a key component of my work. I really enjoy my time in clinical medicine and being able to care for individuals and at times entire families. However, over the years, what I’ve found to be most fulfilling in my career is being able to improve outcomes for large groups of people across not only the state of Texas, but our nation. And I’ve been able to do that through my work in public and population health” 

Manda Hall, M.D.

Associate Commissioner, Community Health Improvement Division of Texas Department of State Health Services

To read more testimonials, please visit AMCHP’s website and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2022 AMCHP Annual Awards!

AMCHP is pleased to announce the winners of its 2022 AMCHP Annual Awards. The awards recognize maternal and child health leaders for their outstanding contributions to the field and will be presented at the AMCHP Annual Conference.

“We are thrilled to recognize 20 maternal and child health leaders and practices in this year’s edition of the AMCHP Awards,” said Terrance E. Moore, Chief Executive Officer of AMCHP. “This year’s awardees are a true example of commitment and dedication to improving the health of women, children, parents, families, and communities nationwide. These awards honor their exemplary leadership and contributions to the maternal and child health field and society.”

Awardees of the 2022 AMCHP Annual Awards include Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha (John MacQueen Lecture Award), Mary Bost (Excellence in State MCH Leadership Award), Dr. Eugene Declercq (Vince Hutchins Leadership Award), Rebecca (Becky) Burns (Merle McPherson Family Leadership Award), and Dylan Campbell (Ryan Colburn Scholarship Award). Awardees for the 2022 Emerging MCH Professional category include Aidea Downie (Region I), Pamela Taylor (Region II), Rachel Heitmann (Region IV), Sarah Dunner (Region V), Rachel Rayla (Region VI), Kafi Dixon (Region VII), Kimberly Hruby (Region VIII), Martin F. Celaya (Region IX), and Rebekah Morisse (Region X). 

This year’s edition of the AMCHP Annual Awards recognizes Senator Cory Booker, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, and Rep. Robin Kelly in its Legislative Champion for MCH Award category. Family Connects (Innovation Hub Best Practice), Infant-Toddler Court Teams (Innovation Hub Empowerment and Partnership), and LEND Trainees as Family Navigators (Innovation Hub Empowerment and Partnership) are also recognized this year.

Congratulations to all the winners! For more information about this year’s awardees please visit this link.

Annual Conference Approved for Continuing Education

As of May 4, 2022, the AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference meets Accreditation and CDC’S Quality Training Standards. Please click this link for more information.

Quick Links

AMCHP Events & Webinars

New Recordings Available!

Webinar: Implementing the “Care for Pregnant and Postpartum People with Substance Use Disorder” Patient Safety Bundle: Opportunities for State Public Health

RECAP: The 2022 Virtual Title V Partnership Meeting Series

This meeting series supports the Title V MCH Services Block Grant Program. Although we are not able to convene in person, we came together virtually in January, March, and April 2022. The overall theme of the meeting series is Addressing Systems Challenges to Advance Equity in MCH. Over the course of this meeting series, states/jurisdictions had the opportunity to network and mutually engage in sessions that highlight key considerations and approaches related to advancing equity within MCH while addressing challenges that may pose obstacles. The series also explored the advantages of partnerships between MCH practitioners; community members and organizations including people with lived experience and youth; government and other organizations. See below for each of the session recordings and you can access all of the meeting materials at this webpage.

Session 1—Approaches to Addressing Systems Challenges in MCH 
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Recording: https://youtu.be/6U2UaSLA7fo

Session 2— Looking Internally within States to Highlight Work in Advancing Health Equity
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Recording: https://youtu.be/HuUftEVgL-o

Session 3—Working Externally: Cross-Sector Partnerships between Community, Government, Business, and Non-profit Organizations to Address Systemic Challenges
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Recording: https://youtu.be/XiNkhnlZFe4

AMCHP Information & Resources

Call for Papers: Public Health Approaches to Perinatal Substance Use

Maternal and Child Health Journal Supplement | Co-sponsored by AMCHP and ASTHO.

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) are co-sponsoring a Maternal and Child Health Journal supplement on “Public Health Approaches to Perinatal Substance Use.”

AMCHP and ASTHO are soliciting manuscripts for the journal supplement that feature effective and innovative policies and programs that expand access to mental health and substance use preventative care, treatment, and recovery supports during the perinatal period.

Manuscript topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Research that highlights structural inequities and the socioeconomic context in which substance use disorder (SUD) occurs
Best practices for prevention, screening, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction
Workforce development programs and policies that build skills and capacity to address perinatal substance use
Innovative approaches to integrating behavioral health into perinatal care settings and minimizing coverage gaps for perinatal behavioral health care and SUD treatment
Policy levers and opportunities to support pregnant and pregnant-capable people with SUD and promote equitable access to care
Relationships between perinatal SUD, access to care, and the COVID-19 pandemic, including lessons learned from COVID-19 response efforts
Racial and health equity implications for pregnant and pregnant-capable people with SUD
Health and legal ramifications of criminalizing perinatal substance use

MCH researchers, state and local public health professionals, healthcare providers, policymakers, practitioners and advocates at community-based organizations, and other allied professionals are encouraged to submit manuscripts. Please read the full Call for Papers to learn more. The guest editorial board includes members of the AMCHP, ASTHO, and Maternal and Child Health Bureau/U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration staff.

In June and July 2022, AMCHP and ASTHO are hosting writing workshops led by Timothy Dye, Editor-in-Chief of the Maternal and Child Health Journal, to support authors. Register to attend one or both writing workshops here.

If you are interested in submitting to the supplement or reviewing manuscript submissions, please contact Amani Echols at aechols@amchp.org.

The Maternal and Child Health Journal Supplement is funded through a cooperative agreement from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau within the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

AMCHP Innovation Hub

Join AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Committee!

Are you interested in building evidence and innovation? Do you want to serve as a catalyst for developing and implementing equitable practices and policies? Join AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Committee!

AMCHP is accepting applications for interested individuals to join the committee as part of the 2021-2022 committee year. As a committee member, you will be part of the team working to advance the field of maternal and child health (MCH) through evidence and innovation. Specifically, committee members guide AMCHP’s efforts to identify, review, amplify, and support the replication of innovative and effective MCH approaches. These approaches center on health equity and improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities across the nation by providing evidence- and implementation-centered technical assistance, resources, and support.

Click here for more information, and fill out this form to join AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Committee.

AMCHP Mental Health Corner

Mental health is an important component of well-being for MCH populations. To recognize its importance, we will use this space to highlight resources for MCH professionals to support their own 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. 

May is Mental Health Month and includes Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week!

In support of Mental Health Month, AMCHP is hosting a Social Media Campaign to get the word out on workforce mental health and burnout. Employee burnout goes beyond the feeling of a “stressful” day at work. It is when you experience overall physical fatigue and emotional instability that can negatively impact your personal and work life. This is where we want to hear from you! Please share ways that you identify and address your feelings of burnout and promote mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, on our social media, or through this quick form.

This year, the U.S.’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week campaign focuses on the intersection of maternal mental health and substance use. In connection with this week, AMCHP is promoting its Maternal and Child Health Journal supplement on public health approaches to perinatal substance use. This supplement, sponsored by AMCHP and ASTHO, will feature articles that address policies and programs dedicated to expanding access to mental health and substance use care during the perinatal period. Please read our Call for Papers to learn more.

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 emailing jsimon@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 Policy and Partnership Town Halls

Thanks to those of you who joined us on the March webinar! Watch the recording:

The next call in this series is May 12, 2022, from 2:00-3:00 PM EDT. Please use this link to register. Note that this Town Hall series is a continuation of the AMCHP MCH COVID-19 Town Halls under a new name and with a wider scope of the content.

Legislation & Policy

Explore our Maternal Health Bill Tracker for more information about pending federal legislation to improve maternal health.

AMCHP Leads Dear Colleague Letter Urging Fiscal Year 2023 Funding for Federal Maternal Health Programs

AMCHP led a bipartisan Dear Colleague Letter sent to leadership on the House Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee in support of Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) funding for federal maternal health programs. The first letter, led by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO-1) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI-8), calls for the highest possible funding in FY23 for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, Healthy Start, CDC’s Safe Motherhood and Infant Health portfolio, and research at the National Institutes of Health. The DeGette/Gallagher letter was signed by 104 Representatives and endorsed by 66 national organizations. Read the letter here.

AMCHP Leads Coalition in Support of Dear Colleague Letter Urging Fiscal Year 2023 Funding for Federal Maternal Health Programs

AMCHP led a coalition of national organizations advocating for Members of Congress to sign a bipartisan Dear Colleague Letter to leadership on the House Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee in support of Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) funding for federal maternal health programs. The Dear Colleague letter, led by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO-1) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI-8), calls for the highest possible funding in FY23 for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, Healthy Start, CDC’s Safe Motherhood and Infant Health portfolio, and research at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The DeGette/Gallagher letter was signed by 104 Representatives and endorsed by 66 national organizations. Read the letter here.

Opportunities & Funding 

AMCHP Career Center: Connecting Talent with Opportunity

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. 

Publication and Resources

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Vaccination Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten — United States, 2020–2021 School Year

Data just published by CDC show national vaccination coverage among kindergarten children getting their required vaccines during the 2020-2021 school, dropped from 95% to below 94%. This amounts to at least 35,000 more children across the U.S. entering kindergarten without documentation of complete vaccination against common diseases.

The findings also highlight that about 400,000 fewer children entered kindergarten than expected based on jurisdictions reporting enrollment data for both years. Those children, too, might not be up to date on their routine vaccinations, further evidence of how pandemic-related disruptions to health care and education could have lingering consequences for school-age children.

For more information or to explore the data, please see this link.

MCH Public Health Academic Journey Project

The HRSA/MCHB-funded Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (CoE-MCH), the MCH Catalyst Program, and the MCH Navigator with support from the Association of Teachers in Maternal and Child Health (ATMCH) would like to share the inauguration of a new project that they have been working on over the last three years, the MCH Public Health Academic Journey Project. Through recorded oral interviews, this project documents the unique paths and trajectories of MCH faculty and leaders in MCH public health academe and their relationship with the larger public health Maternal and Child Health enterprise including Title V. 

This project was born out of a desire to strengthen, preserve, and elevate the field of MCH Public Health Academe. It had its genesis in sessions held by MCH public health faculty at HRSA/MCHB-funded training programs and became fully realized when they established a collaboration with the MCH Navigator along with support from the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health (ATMCH). Clearly, however, the project would not have been possible without the generosity and passion of the 30 academic faculty who participated in the interviews and the several public health students who interviewed them. 

For most interviewees, the MCH Academic Journey site captures information about specific events and decision points along the MCH academic timeline. However, full interviews are included for the senior and retired academic leaders to specifically provide an opportunity to engage with the wisdom that senior leaders can provide to young academics interested in the field of Maternal and Child Health. They are seeking greater diversity among MCH faculty to better reflect that of students and of those served in MCH programs.  While the stories of more junior faculty reveal some progress in recent years, you will notice that the faculty highlighted as senior leaders are all white and often retired. Their dream is that over time if this truly becomes a living site, additional diverse voices will be included.  

Commemorations

COVID-19 Resources

CDC Reports COVID-19 Was Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S.

Recent CDC News

AMCHP COVID-19 Resources and Vaccination Pages

AMCHP Announcements

Statement by AMCHP CEO Terrance E. Moore on the Draft Majority Opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

NEW MCH Bridges Podcast Episode

AMCHP Invites you to our Annual Business Meeting held on May 18 Virtually

AMCHP Invites our Members to a Virtual Coffee with Our CEO

AMCHP Annual Conference

The Latest on the AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference

AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference is approaching!

AMCHP Sharing Your Why Testimonials

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2022 AMCHP Annual Awards!

Annual Conference Approved for Continuing Education

Quick Links

AMCHP Events & Webinars

New Recordings Available!

RECAP: The 2022 Virtual Title V Partnership Meeting Series

AMCHP Information & Resources

Call for Papers: Public Health Approaches to Perinatal Substance Use

AMCHP Innovation Hub

Join AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Committee!

AMCHP Mental Health Corner

In Case you Missed It!

AMCHP National Policy Calls

AMCHP Policy and Partnership Town Halls

Legislation & Policy

AMCHP Leads Dear Colleague Letter Urging Fiscal Year 2023 Funding for Federal Maternal Health Programs

AMCHP Leads Coalition in Support of Dear Colleague Letter Urging Fiscal Year 2023 Funding for Federal Maternal Health Programs

Opportunities & Funding

AMCHP Career Center: Connecting Talent with Opportunity

Publication and Resources

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

MCH Public Health Academic Journey Project

Commemorations

May 2022

Weeks to Note:

Days to Note:

CDC Reports COVID-19 Was Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S.

Opportunities & Funding 