COVID-19 Resources
Recent CDC News
- CDC Allows Novavax Monovalent COVID-19 Boosters for Adults Ages 18 and Older
- CDC Expands Updated COVID-19 Vaccines to Include Children Ages 5 Through 11
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).
AMCHP Announces New Members to the Board of Directors
AMCHP is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors recently held a special election and welcomed three new regional directors. New Board members will serve effective immediately. With these changes, AMCHP’s Board of Directors will comprise seventeen members. New appointments to the Board include Martha Smith (Region VII Director), Jennie Munthali (Region VIII Director), and Katie Eilers (Region X Director).
“On behalf of the Board, I am proud to welcome these three incredible leaders as new colleagues on the AMCHP Board,” said Belinda Pettiford, President of AMCHP’s Board of Directors. “These individuals bring unique perspectives to support AMCHP’s mission and strategic direction and to represent maternal and child health priorities in their regions.”
Continue reading or download our full press release at this link.
New MCH Bridges Podcast – Queering Perinatal Mental Health
Our newest MCH Bridges episode is live! Episode 10 – “Queering Perinatal Mental Health.”
In this episode, Leo Andreas (he/him) and Jenna “JB” Brown (they/he) join us to explore the unique perinatal mental health experiences of queer, trans, and gender non-conforming people. Leo, a dad of a two-year-old, shares his mental health experiences of his journey to parenthood. And JB, a full-spectrum doula and community educator, explains the positive impact person-centered, radically inclusive care can have on the mental health of queer, trans, and gender non-conforming people during the perinatal period. Tune in now to listen to episode 10 and check out a list of suggested resources.
This episode discusses mental health issues and mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Additionally, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides support before, during, and after pregnancy. Call or text 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746). TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 988 or 1-833-943-5746. Both services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
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 intended to help our listeners create new connections to MCH leaders, organizations, and ideas. We aim to inspire and guide listeners toward 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.
Recent AMCHP News
- Early Childhood Nutrition + AYA Mental Health E-Learning Modules
- #ScreenToInterveneForAYAs Blog Post on Mental Health Equity for BIPOC Communities – Helpful Primers from Mental Health America
- AMCHP Observed Children’s Environmental Health Day and National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
AMCHP Annual Conference
Have you saved the date for the 2023 Annual Conference? Mark your calendars for May 6-9, 2023, to attend in New Orleans, Louisiana! Our 2023 edition of the AMCHP Annual Conference will offer content in-person and through our virtual conference platform with the theme Cultivating Diverse Leaders in Maternal and Child Health. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list to be the first to receive updates and information about the conference!
Early Bird Registration for the 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference is Now OPEN!
Early Bird registration for the 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference is now open! Register to attend in person or virtually by Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 11:59 PM PT, to take advantage of the early bird pricing.
Are you not sure whether you will attend in person or virtually? You can change your attendance status without penalties until Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 11:59 PM PT.
You can register now to secure your spot here!
Now Accepting Hotel Reservations
You can now make your hotel reservation to attend the 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference in person. Book your stay at the New Orleans Marriot in New Orleans, LA, by EOD April 13, 2023, or until the block sells out.
We look forward to seeing you!
Support CBOs, Tribal Government Representatives, and Youth at Our Upcoming Annual Conference!
Our annual conference is fast approaching. While we can’t wait to see you at AMCHP 2023, we also recognize the deep value of having youth and young adult leaders, community-based organizations (CBOs), and those representing tribal entities to attend as well.
Here is a letter from our President and CEO providing further details about ways to support these individuals to attend. We shared a similar letter last year, and based on our conference evaluation, it inspired jurisdictions to financially support 10 youth and young adult leaders (including students), CBOs, and tribal government representatives to participate. Nearly a quarter of those who received the letter indicated that it helped them build or strengthen relationships with the individuals that they sponsored to attend the conference.
We are hopeful that this letter will have the same, or an even larger, impact this year. We also hope that it inspires you and your colleagues to have conversations about ways that you can further partner with and support these individuals and groups in your own work. Check out our conference registration page for further information.
Call for Proposals is Due on November 22
The call for proposals for the 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference, held from May 6-9, 2023, at the New Orleans Marriot in New Orleans, LA, will close on November 22, 2022, at 11:59 PM PT. You can still apply to share your work and ideas under any of the 13 subject-focused tracks.
The deadline will not be extended. [learn more]
- Students and early career professionals (SECP) are invited to submit a proposal to share their completed (or in progress!) work under any of the 13 subject-focused tracks. Given this year’s theme, Cultivating Diverse Leaders in Maternal and Child Health, it is especially important that we hold space for the voices and ideas of those exploring or preparing to explore career pathways in our diverse field. [learn more]
- Those with lived experiences and partners outside our traditional membership, including community members, those working at community-based organizations, and those representing tribal governments, are invited to participate in submitting and presenting concurrent skills-building sessions, workshops, poster sessions, and roundtables. AMCHP has made a formal commitment to anti-racism and racial equity, which we operationalize through our partnerships, communications, and events such as the AMCHP Annual Conference. We also recognize that the work of Title V and our members is enhanced immeasurably by working in partnership with CBOs and tribal governments. [learn more]
Call for Conference Proposal Reviewers Closes on November 18
The AMCHP Annual Conference Planning Committee invites you to apply to review conference proposals by EOD Friday, November 18. Sign up to be a reviewer and explore some of the expectations and the timeline at this link.
Conference proposal reviewers training will be held on Monday, November 28, from 3:30 – 4:30 PM ET. Everyone who signed up via SurveyMonkey will receive a training invitation via e-mail.
Behind the Scenes of AMCHP 2023: Meet Julie Traylor!
Julie Traylor, AMCHP’s Annual Conference Planning Committee Chair, is the Director of Strategic Development for the Division of Family Health and Wellness at the Tennessee Department of Health.
We connected with Julie to discuss her role in the AMCHP Conference Planning Committee and her thoughts on AMCHP 2023 – including what she is most excited about the conference, this year’s theme, what potential participants need to know, and how the conference aims to impact the maternal and child health field. [read more]
Explore the Conference Theme
Each year, the AMCHP Annual Conference is represented with a theme that aligns with identifying practices and policies to address the key challenges that maternal and child health (MCH) programs and families face. It also aims to strengthen the partnership between local and state MCH programs and families. Ideas for the theme are solicited from our conference planning committee, AMCHP staff, AMCHP Board, and AMCHP committee members and then carefully considered and selected based on a prioritization process. Thus, the emergence of this year’s Annual Conference theme came about: Cultivating Diverse Leaders in Maternal and Child Health. [read more]
Explore the Schedule At-A-Glance on Our Website
Visit our conference webpage to view the schedule at-a-glance, which includes opportunities for networking and skill-building sessions as well as plenty of impactful workshops and inspiring plenary sessions.
AMCHP Information & Resources
Improve Your Program’s Response Readiness: Apply Today for AMCHP’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Learning Collaborative!
Are you interested in building your jurisdiction’s capacity to meet the complex needs of women, children, and families in planning for and responding to public health emergencies? AMCHP is inviting applications for the fourth cohort of its Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Learning Collaborative (EPR ALC) that runs for seven months from January 2023 through July 2023.
Since 2018, more than 20 teams from state and territory health departments have participated in this initiative that is funded by and done in close partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Reproductive Health. The ALC is framed by the Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Checklist for Maternal and Infant Health, which was jointly developed by AMCHP and the CDC, and covers four overarching strategies that address topics such as data and surveillance, communication, and program coordination.
The ideal ALC participants are multidisciplinary teams from a single jurisdiction (i.e., associated with a state, territory, or freely associated state) that must include staff from the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and Public Health and Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEP) programs – with an individual associated with one of those programs serving as a team lead.
Click here to learn more about this initiative, including program components and a schedule of activities. The application for the upcoming cohort is due on Friday, December 9. Decision notifications will be made by Friday, December 16. Have questions? Please contact Nia Sutton (nsutton@amchp.org), AMCHP’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager.
Information From AMCHP and MCHB to Share with Caregivers & the Public
With winter still more than a month away, we are already experiencing a surge in pediatric respiratory infections. These infections, along with ongoing staffing shortages and emergency department and inpatient stays for behavioral health concerns, are straining the capacity of healthcare systems across the country. Please join AMCHP and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) in promoting the following public health messaging to caregivers and the public. Thank you in advance for helping to promote vaccinations and spread the word about ways that we can keep children and families safe and healthy.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
This surge in respiratory illnesses is currently being driven by high numbers of RSV infections not usually seen until winter. Hospitals are also seeing early increases in seasonal flu activity, with flu cases expected to rise significantly over the upcoming weeks. In addition, children are still presenting to emergency departments and being admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 infections.
With the existing burden of RSV cases, and with cases of influenza and COVID-19 expected to rise over the winter months, the strain on the capacity of emergency departments, hospitals, and pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) across the country will likely continue. CDC data suggest that each year in the United States, RSV leads to approximately 2.1 million outpatient (non-hospitalization) visits and as many as 80,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old. In addition, between 7,000 and 28,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized for flu annually. Infants, younger children, and children with developmental disabilities or chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe infection from respiratory viruses.
Actions for Caregivers & the Public
An important step that parents and caregivers can take is to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 to help keep kids—especially those under 6 months, who can’t yet receive flu or COVID-19 vaccines—safe.
In addition to staying up to date on their flu and COVID-19 vaccines and protecting high-risk infants, people can prevent the spread of respiratory viruses by taking the following everyday actions:
- Avoid close contact (such as kissing, shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils) with people who are sick
- Stay home when sick
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve (not your hands)
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices
Vaccinating against flu and COVID-19 is a primary strategy for preventing illness and reducing the severity of illness; this not only protects individuals from potentially serious respiratory disease but also helps to prevent additional strain on the health care system.
CDC Recommendations
- Annual flu vaccination is recommended for all people 6 months and older who do not have contraindications (which are rare).
- People ages 6 months and older are recommended to receive a primary series of any age-appropriate FDA-approved or FDA-authorized monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
- People ages 5 years and older are recommended to receive one bivalent mRNA booster dose after completion of any FDA-approved or FDA-authorized monovalent primary series or previously received monovalent booster dose(s).
Children younger than six months of age are not eligible for flu or COVID-19 vaccines. As noted above, an important strategy for keeping these youngest infants safe is to make sure that everyone around them—parents, siblings, other relatives, and caregivers—is vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19.
About Palivizumab
While there is no vaccine to prevent RSV, some infants and children who are at the highest risk for serious illness from RSV may be eligible for monoclonal antibodies (palivizumab). Palivizumab has been shown to reduce hospitalization and intensive care unit admission for RSV. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) “supports the use of palivizumab in eligible infants in any region experiencing rates of RSV activity at any time in 2022 similar to a typical fall-winter season.” MCHB encourages state and local programs for children and youth with special health care needs to assist in identifying infants and young children who are eligible for palivizumab and work with health care providers and payers to assure that eligible infants and children receive palivizumab in accordance with the latest AAP clinical guidance.
AMCHP Innovation Hub
Be a Part of AMCHP’s Replication Projects!
See a practice in AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Database that caught your eye? Interested in building partnerships with other MCH organizations while enhancing your organizational capacity? Consider participating in AMCHP’s Replication Projects for the 2023-2024 project year! Each year, AMCHP offers awards between $15,000-$25,000 for organizations to replicate a Cutting-Edge, Promising, or Best Practice from the MCH Innovations Database. You’ll receive peer coaching from a representative of the practice as well as tailored assistance from AMCHP to help you adapt the practice to your unique context and situation.
The Replication Project offers two levels of support (capacity building or implementation) depending on your organization’s level of readiness to begin replication.
- Capacity Building focuses on growing your organization’s capacity and partnerships to help you prepare to replicate a practice.
- Implementation focuses on helping you plan for and begin adapting a practice to your setting.
Want to learn more about this opportunity?
Visit our webpage, and review our Readiness Checklist to get started.
Questions? Email us at evidence@amchp.org.
AMCHP Mental Health Corner
Mental health is an important component of well-being for MCAH populations. To recognize its importance, we will use this space to highlight resources for MCAH 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.
Observances in November include Native American Heritage Month, World Kindness Day, International Stress Awareness Day, and International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. In November, AMCHP’s mental health social media will highlight stress and anxiety relief as we enter the holiday season and celebrate the important work of tribal-led mental health and suicide prevention programs. We encourage you to retweet our material and use the hashtag: #AMCHPMentalHealth.
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 checking 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 Partnerships Town Halls
Thank you to those of you who joined us for our November AMCHP Policy and Partnerships Town Hall. You can watch the full recording here:
The next Town Hall will be Thursday, December 8, 2-3 PM ET. We invite you to register for that and future Town Halls at this link.
Legislation & Policy
Explore our Maternal Health Bill Tracker for more information about pending federal legislation to improve maternal health.
AMCHP Leads Over 100 National Organizations in Letter to Congress Calling for Permanent, Nationwide 12-Month Postpartum Medicaid Extension
AMCHP has led 109 national organizations in sending a letter to Congressional leadership calling on Congress to establish permanent, nationwide 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage in any end-of-year legislative packages. Members of Congress are currently negotiating a Fiscal Year 2023 spending package ahead of the December 16 funding deadline, and it is likely the best vehicle to move this policy before this Congressional term ends in January. We encourage you to read the letter here to learn more about the need for this critical policy.
AMCHP Seeks Feedback on Proposed MIECHV Legislation
AMCHP seeks your feedback on the proposed MIECHV Legislation. Details of the bill can be found in this section-by-section summary, or see the full legislative text.
Please fill out our survey (you can remain anonymous) with your feedback here.
Opportunities & Funding
AMCHP Career Center: Connecting Talent with Opportunity
AMCHP lists the top jobs available in our industry. Access the AMCHP Career Center to search and apply for open positions or post your jobs on opportunities! Search for Jobs | Post a Job.
New Training Opportunity for Health Department Staff to Build Policy and Strategy Skills
The National Network of Public Health Institutes is excited to announce the release of a new national training and workforce development opportunity for early, mid, and senior career state, tribal, local, and territory public health practitioners that is available through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Public Health Policy and Strategy Innovation Hub. This pilot initiative will support a cohort of public health practitioners’ participation in a series of trainings to prepare them for change, build capacity for strategic policy and decision making, learn adaptive leadership skills to inform decision-making approaches, and design solutions to address current and future public health issues. The Innovation Hub application is now open and accepting applications until Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at 5:00 PM PT.
Call for Reviewers: Maternal and Child Health Journal Supplement on Public Health Approaches to Perinatal Substance Use
AMCHP and ASTHO warmly invite you to serve as a peer reviewer for our journal supplement on Public Health Approaches to Perinatal Substance Use in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Journal. Peer reviewing is an enriching experience that benefits both the individuals who dedicate their time and expertise to the process and the MCH community. You can learn more about the role and responsibilities of peer reviewers here.
If you would like to peer review, please complete this short survey. The information provided will be shared with the Editor-in-Chief of the MCH Journal to initiate matching you to papers within your interests and expertise. (Note: it is possible to submit to this supplement AND review a submission).
For questions, please email Amani Echols (AMCHP) at aechols@amchp.org.
Partner Events & Webinars
The 2022 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center held its webinar on October 13, where they discussed several policies and strategies implemented across several states to help enact positive change in the lives of infants and toddlers. Visit this link here to view more of their materials and learn about their Policy Roadmap!
Publications & Resources
New and Updated Resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Supporting Intimate Partner Violence Survivors in Pediatric Health Care Setting
The American Academy of Pediatrics, in partnership with Futures Without Violence, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developed several resources to assist pediatricians and pediatric healthcare providers in supporting intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors and their children during the pandemic and recovery. Resources include:
- Sample scripts/dialogue for having conversations about IPV with caregivers in pediatric healthcare settings.
- An infographic series (and related resources) highlighting key experiences and challenges of domestic violence advocates and families experiencing violence during the pandemic.
- An issue brief sharing important lessons learned about IPV survivor-centered support during the pandemic, specifically for pediatric healthcare providers.
- A HealthyChildren.org article for families who may be experiencing stress and violence at home.
- A short, animated video series related to the experiences of IPV survivors during the pandemic, specifically in pediatric healthcare settings. These videos address the following topics:
- For Families/IPV Survivors:
- Talking With Your Child’s Doctor about IPV – Available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese
- For Pediatric Health Care Providers:
Visit www.AAP.org/IPV for more info. FUTURES is also in the process of updating www.IPVhealth.org and adding pediatric-specific information/resources as well.
Recent Publication & Resources
- Special Journal Issue on MCH Workforce Development
- Pregnancy-Related Deaths: Data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 36 U.S. States, 2027-2019
Commemorations
November 2022
American Diabetes Month
Bladder Health Month
COPD Awareness Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
National Epilepsy Awareness Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Healthy Skin Month
National Home Care & Hospice Month
National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Prematurity Awareness Month
Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
National Diabetes Education Week; November 6 – 12
National Radiologic Technology Week; November 7-13
National Nurse Practitioner Week; November 13 – 19
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Week; November 23 – 29
Days to Note:
National Diabetes Heart Connection Day; November 9
World Pneumonia Day; November 12
World Diabetes Day; November 14
World Prematurity Day 2022; November 17
Great American Smokeout; November 19
National Family Health History Day; November 25
