March 9, 2023

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March 9, 2023

COVID-19 Resources

Streamlining COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations

On February 24, 2023, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to discuss the latest COVID-19 vaccine data, as well as potential updates to future COVID-19 vaccination efforts. The discussion included an update on vaccine safety, a risk-benefit assessment of the updated COVID-19 vaccines, and anticipated vaccine updates later this year.

CDC presented new data showing that the updated vaccines protect people against current variants, and the committee expressed support for streamlining and simplifying COVID-19 vaccine recommendations this fall. This includes phasing out the original (monovalent) vaccines and replacing them with the updated (bivalent) vaccines, which protect against the original COVID-19 strain and more recent Omicron subvariants. This change would affect only the people who have not yet received their primary vaccination series, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration must authorize it before CDC can make a recommendation. [read more]

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 maternal and child health (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).

Deadline Extended! Share Your How for AMCHP 2023 by March 17

AMCHP has extended the deadline for receiving video, audio, and written submissions for our “Sharing Your How” project – a plenary session of the 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference where “how” is front and center. The new due date is Friday, March 17, at 11:59 PM PT.  

This plenary session builds on last year’s “Sharing Your Why” project, where attendees heard perspectives from a broad range of maternal and child health (MCH) professionals, youth, and families. Last year, we shared “why” they do their work in MCH, what brought them to the field, why they feel passionate about their work, and what motivates them. This year, we’ll shift our focus from “why” to “how” to learn about strategies and activities that support the development of diverse leaders in MCH.  

To be a part of our “Sharing You How” project, please complete this submission form which consists of a short testimonial (video, audio, or written format) by Friday, March 17, at 11:59 PM PT. Please aim to share your “how” video or audio testimonial in under 3 minutes or a written testimonial in 500 words or less. AMCHP will share these creatively throughout the 2023 Annual Conference and might invite you to participate in this plenary session.  

Do you need ideas for creating your submission? Get inspired by exploring testimonials for the “Sharing Your Why” project in 2022 at this link!  

Please download our “Sharing Your How” flyer  and visit our blog post for more information or to share this opportunity. For any questions, please contact Caroline Stampfel at cstampfel@amchp.org.

New Pulse Newsletter Issue: Things to Watch Out For in 2023

Graphic alerting new Pulse issue available: Things to Watch Out For in 2023. Image of family standing and looking at the sunrise. The latest issue of our Pulse newsletter is now live! This Pulse issue, “Things to Watch Out For in 2023,” covers maternal and child health (MCH) legislative successes and opportunities, the behavioral health policy landscape, COVID-19 Medicaid coverage redetermination, stillbirth prevention, and support for moms through the pandemic. It also features stories from those with lived experiences and insight as to how MCH leaders can impact the community they serve.

Read the articles:

Do you want to receive our Pulse newsletter directly in your inbox? Subscribe to our email list at this link!

Announcing Innovation Hub Spring 2023 Review!

Are you a community-based organization improving the health and well-being of maternal and child health (MCH) populations?  Submit it to the MCH Innovations Database: Spring 2023!  AMCHP’s Innovation Hub is currently accepting submissions to the MCH Innovations Database. The MCH Innovations Database is a searchable repository of “what’s working” in the field that includes practices and policies that are positively impacting MCH populations. This year and moving forward, AMCHP strongly encourages community-based organizations to submit their practices to the MCH Innovations Database, regardless of whether the practice has been evaluated by experimental or “traditional” methods. AMCHP recognizes the validity of many forms of evidence, given that public health practice is context-specific and happens in real life. We strongly believe in the power of community- and practice-defined evidence and seek to promote its use in MCH practice to center those with lived experience. To learn more about AMCHP’s view of evidence, visit this link and click on the “How AMCHP Thinks About Evidence” tab; There is also an example of community-defined evidence that is currently in the MCH Innovations Database linked here for your reference. 

Submissions to the database are assessed along a practice continuum and, if accepted, receive a designation of Cutting-Edge, Emerging, Promising, or Best Practice, depending on the practice’s demonstrated impact among other criteria. The Innovation Hub has also expanded to include policies, which have their own criteria to sort them into the appropriate designation including Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Policies are accepted on a rolling basis and can be submitted at any point. Check out this short overview video of the submission process to learn more.   

How to Submit a Practice? Access our submission forms HERE under the “How do I Submit a Practice?” tab and learn more about how you can submit your practice for the Spring! All submissions must be sent to evidence@amchp.org by COB Friday, April 21.

Not sure which designation to submit to? Check out our Minimum Criteria Checklist  to figure out which designation is right for your practice.

How to Submit a Policy? Access our submission forms HERE under the “How do I Submit a Policy?” tab and learn more about how you can submit your policy for review! All submissions should be sent to evidence@amchp.org and please remember that they are accepted on a rolling basis. 

Not sure which track to submit to? Check out our Policy Track Criteria to figure out which designation is right for your policy.

Refer a Practice/Policy: Don’t have anything to submit for the Spring 2023 Review, but know of one that would be a great fit for the MCH Innovations Database? Refer a practice/policy to the database on our website, and we’ll reach out to them. All referrals can be submitted on our site using this link.

If you would like greater assistance with which practice designation or policy track to submit to or have any questions, please email us at evidence@amchp.org, and we will be happy to help you!

Recent AMCHP Announcements

AMCHP Annual Conference 

AMCHP 2023 Annual Conference Banner includes an icon of a human holding their hands up with different shades of green leaves above it so it looks like it's growing. Next to it is the theme displayed in green, "Cultivating Diverse Leaders in Maternal & Child Health", and the date/location of the conference in white on a brown rectangle background, "May 6-9, 2023 | New Orleans, LA"

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!

Register for AMCHP 2023

There is still time to register to attend in person or virtually for the 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference. 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 PT. [learn more]

View registration rates here.

Health & Safety at AMCHP 2023

The health and safety of the AMCHP members, attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, venue staff, and the surrounding community are of the utmost importance to AMCHP. We are committed to reducing risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of attending an in-person event. In keeping with the culture of public health meetings, we ask that all participants adopt the following best practices as part of our shared responsibility during the pandemic:

Hybrid Format: AMCHP welcomes attendees to participate virtually or in person and will make every effort to ensure that both experiences are enriching and rewarding. Although virtual-only options will exist for presenters and participants, there is no virtual-only option for exhibitors.
Vaccination: AMCHP conference participants are encouraged to be up to date on Covid-19 vaccinations, including a bivalent booster.
Masks: Masks are welcome and optional.
If participants are not feeling well or exhibit signs of infectious illness, including Covid-19, we expect that participants will not travel or participate in in-person activities.

We will continue to monitor conditions and follow guidance from federal, state, and local public health authorities, as well as the conference venue. Updates will be posted to the 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference page.

View the Conference Schedule

AMCHP released the schedule of 57 workshops, nine skill-building sessions, and two round tables at AMCHP 2023. Visit our conference website to browse sessions by date, track, speaker, or by doing a keyword search. All sessions are displayed in Central Time (CT). Start creating your list of must-see sessions today!

Visit the Conference Platform

Visit our conference platform to view the updated schedule at-a-glance (which includes opportunities for networking and skill-building sessions as well as plenty of impactful workshops and inspiring plenary sessions.), hotel and travel information, exhibits and sponsor information, and much more!

Make Your Hotel Reservations

You can still 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!

New Orleans & Co Welcomes AMCHP to the City of New Orleans

AMCHP is thankful to New Orleans & Company, the former New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau (NOCVB), for welcoming us and our annual conference to the beautiful and charming city of New Orleans.

Are you attending AMCHP 2023 in person? Make sure to check out these excellent resources available at New Orleans and Company’s website:

Snapshot of the Virtual Conference Experience

Registered to attend AMCHP 2023 virtually? We strive to provide virtual participants with a meaningful experience that is flexible for any schedule. Here are a few of the items to look forward to:

Watch ALL three live-streamed plenaries and participate in the discussion chat with other participants on the live-stream platform.
Enjoy live-streamed workshop sessions – one broadcast session during each of the concurrent workshop sessions.
Participate in two rounds of live virtual workshop sessions hosted on Zoom.
Access more than 100 posters on the conference platform, including both those being presented in person and those presented virtually.
Take advantage of virtual networking opportunities.
Dedicated AMCHP staff who will support virtual engagement opportunities.

For more information, view the full schedule on our conference platform.

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 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.

Latest Blog Posts

Introducing Conference Plenary Session #1: “Strengthening Our Roots: Tending to the Local MCH Ecosystem”: AMCHP is thrilled to announce the opening plenary of this year’s edition of our conference: “Strengthening Our Roots: Tending to the Local MCH Ecosystem.” This dynamic opening plenary will explore the maternal and child health (MCH) ecosystem that grows and sustains healthy families in New Orleans through a panel of local leaders in MCH, including Dr. Mary Ann Ross, Executive Director of the Arc of Greater New Orleans, Amy Zapata, Director of Louisiana’s Bureau of Family Health, and other community-based leaders of the field. [read more]

AMCHP 2023: A Flexible Gathering of MCH Leaders and Thinkers: If you are still pondering your participation or are undecided about participating in person or virtually, we have you covered! Join us in this post as we revisit some of the benefits offered by our conference and reasons to connect with maternal and child health (MCH) leaders and thinkers at AMCHP 2023. [read more]

New From AMCHP

New State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC) Website!

This promotional image announces the launch of a new website (https://spharc.amchp.org) for the State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC). A screenshot of the new website shows four focus areas of Resources, Technical Assistance, Peer Learning, and Centering Lived Experience. AMCHP is pleased to announce the launch of a new State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC) website. SPHARC is a comprehensive web-based resource center intended to provide ongoing technical assistance and facilitate cross-state learning to increase the capacity of states, particularly Title V programs, in developing and implementing systems of care for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD).

The new website was designed to make it easier to understand SPHARC’s work and the populations it reaches. The website is broken down into the four major areas of SPHARC’s work:

Resource development
Technical assistance
Peer learning
Centering lived experience

The new SPHARC website features:

Easy navigation around four focus areas
Fillable online forms to request technical assistance or contact SPHARC staff
Searchable resource library

This website was developed for anyone who is working to increase the ability of states and jurisdictions to develop and implement systems of care for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD). It will also be of use to state and local decision-makers, public health professionals and leaders, family and community leaders, students, policymakers, Autistic adolescents, young adults, and adults, and anyone who wants to center Autistic voices in their work and co-design programs and policies with Autistic people.

You can access the new SPHARC website here. You may also contact the SPHARC team at spharc@amchp.org for additional questions or information requests.

AMCHP Events & Webinars

Upcoming Webinar: Unwinding Medicaid Continuous Enrollment

Graphic with title: Unwinding the PHE Medicaid Continuous Eligibility Provision: The Role of MCH Advocates. Headshots of 3 speakers from AMCHP and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Friday, March 17 at 12PM ET. Register at https://bit.ly/pheunwind. The Medicaid continuous enrollment provision enacted as a part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act at the beginning of the pandemic is coming to end on March 31, 2023. That means all Medicaid enrollees, including children, must be redetermined for eligibility in a 12-month-long process beginning April 1, 2023. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that anywhere between 5 million and 14 million Medicaid beneficiaries could lose coverage in the year-long unwinding period. Join AMCHP and the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families for a lunch and learn conversation on Friday, March 17 at 12 PM ET. Register for the event here.

AMCHP: Blueprint for Change Webinar Series

Graphic alerting to join Blueprint for Change two-part webinar series on March 21 and March 29 from 3-4 PM ET. Image of woman helping toddler with shapes on a table. The Blueprint for Change is a national framework for a system of services for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) where they enjoy a full life and thrive in their community from childhood through adulthood. Families of CYSHCN reported that the current system of services is not working for their children. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, 85% of CYSHCN still do not receive services via a well-functioning system.

In partnership with families, healthcare professionals, and other experts in the field, MCHB developed a framework to advance the vision that CYSHCN:

Enjoy a full life, from childhood through adulthood
Thrive in systems that
Support their families and their social, health, and emotional needs
Ensure dignity, autonomy, independence, and active participation in their communities

During this two-part webinar series, open to anyone interested and sponsored by the AMCHP Family LEAD Committee, participants will receive an overview of the Blueprint for Change, hear from the family perspective who participated in the development of this framework and brainstorm how stakeholders can support and implement this work in their work. We strongly encourage participation in both webinars of this two-part series, however, it is not required:

Session #1 on March 21, 3 – 4 PM ET
Session #2 on March 29, 3 – 4 PM ET

If you would like to participate, you may register here.

Title V and ECCS Partner Meeting Approaching

The Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance Center (ECS-TACC) is hosting a partner networking meeting for Title V and Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) partners on Wednesday, March 22 from 2-3:30 PM ET. Title V administrators, family leaders, and program staff from ECCS-awarded states are encouraged to attend (list of ECCS-awarded states below).

AMCHP and state partners will share examples of coordination and alignment across Title V and ECCS initiatives. This meeting will support state-specific sharing and partnership opportunities. Register for the meeting.

A map of the United States with ECCS awarded states highlighted in red. ECCS states: Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, Virginia Vermont, Florida

Perinatal Substance Use: National and State Public Health Strategies Webinar

Graphic alerting of webinar on Perinatal Substance Use: National and State Public Health Strategies on March 27 from 1-2pm ET. Images of speakers Amani Echols, Shalini Wickramatilake, and Cecelia Spitznas. Join AMCHP & ASTHO for this webinar featuring The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) on March 27 from 1-2 PM ET! ONDCP will share its priorities for improving maternal health outcomes and expanding access to evidence-based treatment for perinatal populations, as outlined in the agency’s recent report: Substance Use Disorder in Pregnancy: Improving Outcomes for Families. The presentation will include recommendations and opportunities for state MCH programs to partner with ONDCP and strengthen local MCH behavioral health systems. The webinar will also feature one state’s approach to advancing perinatal substance use prevention and treatment. Register here.

Innovation Hub Learning Community: Join Our Webinar Series

AMCHP is excited to announce the launch of the Innovation Hub Learning Community (IHLC). The IHLC is the latest evolution of the programmatic support and learning opportunities offered through Innovation Hub and is an expansion of the previous Cutting-Edge Learning Community (CELC).

Throughout the year, AMCHP will be hosting four webinars on topics related to programmatic best practices that all MCH professionals and advocates are welcome to attend. Additional peer-sharing and coaching opportunities are available for existing practices in the MCH Innovations Database.

The IHLC Webinar Series: The webinar series will focus on skills and strategies that you can apply to your work to improve your organizational processes, expand the scope and impact of your practice, and plan for program sustainability.

Click below to register for the IHLC’s upcoming webinars (all at 3 PM ET):

May 23: Starting from Your Strengths: Planning for Sustainability
August 24: Expanding Your Impact: Preparing to Scale Up Your Practice
November 28: Who’s Guiding Your Choices: Centering Community in Evidence-Based Decision Making

Looking for more information on the IHLC? Check out our website under the technical assistance tab or email us at evidence@amchp.org with any questions!

Save the Date for NBDPN 2023

NBDPN Conference Banner alerting the date; August 14-16, 2023; location, Atlanta, Georgia; and theme, Connect. Share. Collaborate. Also pictured is a digitized image of a pregnant woman on the far left.

AMCHP is pleased to announce the return of the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) Conference, taking place August 14-16, 2023 in Atlanta, GA. Save the date for this outstanding event that AMCHP is co-hosting, which will offer relevant and timely content in the areas of Surveillance Operations, Partnerships and Family Engagement, Epidemiology/Data, and Prevention, Intervention, and Public Policy as it relates to birth defects and overall maternal and child health.

Visit the website to learn about the conference, as registration will open soon! Please be on the lookout for announcements in the next few weeks. For questions about this event, please contact NBDPNmeetings@conferencemanagers.com. We hope to see you there!

AMCHP Mental Health Corner

Mental health is an important component of well-being for maternal, child, and adolescent health (MCAH) populations. Read more about AMCHP’s organizational work on mental health and substance use here.

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 Partnerships Town Halls

Thank you to those of you who joined us for AMCHP Policy and Partnerships Town Halls. You can find the full recordings of past Town Halls here. Town Halls occur on the second Thursday of every month from 2 to 3 PM ET. We invite you to register for all 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.

Legislation Addressing Pregnancy-Related Needs of Incarcerated People Introduced in House

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) and Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-8) have introduced bipartisan legislation to address the pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated people entitled the Pregnant Women in Custody Act (H.R.982). The Act would establish minimum standards of health care related to pregnancy and childbirth in the federal prison system, and specifically prohibits the use of restraints and restrictive housing on federal prisoners who are pregnant or who have recently given birth. The legislation would also require the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide training and technical assistance to state and local corrections and law enforcement agencies to meet and exceed the established standards for healthcare; collect data on women’s mental and physical health in corrections facilities during the pregnancy and post-partum period; and establish grant funding to states for implementation. AMCHP has endorsed this legislation.

To learn more about what is included in The Pregnant Women in Custody Act, you can read the full text of the Pregnant Women in Custody Act, check out the press release from Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s office, and follow its movement in Congress on AMCHP’s Maternal Health Bill Tracker.

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 and opportunities! Search for Jobs | Post a Job. 

AMCHP Career Opportunities

Be part of our team! AMCHP is seeking individuals for the role listed below. AMCHP offers a 100% virtual work/telework environment for all positions.

Senior Program Manager, Reproductive and Maternal Health: The Senior Program Manager develops, implements, and evaluates program activities that impact health outcomes across the life course and disrupt sources of historical, structural, and institutional racism and oppression in governmental public health agencies and health systems that drive inequities in sexual and reproductive wellbeing and maternal health. This position will partner and coordinate with private funders and federal agencies as well as national, state, and community organizational leaders to support collaborative efforts and maximize impact for justice. [learn more and apply]

To learn more about AMCHP’s career opportunities, please visit this link.

AMCHP is Seeking a Fundraising/Development Consultant

AMCHP is seeking a fundraising/development consultant to support the Safer Childbirth Cities Initiative Community of Practice sustainability work. The expected contract duration is approximately April 15, 2023 – June 15, 2024. Learn more about the position and how to submit a bid here. Please share with your networks!

Funding Opportunity: 2023 RWJF Culture of Health Prize

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is launching its Culture of Health Prize award process that recognizes communities “who are collaborating to build positive solutions to structural barriers that have created unequal opportunity.” The awarded communities will receive $250,000, receive national recognition and opportunities to connect with other award winners along with “access to technical assistance, coaching, and workshops to enable Prize winners to accelerate their progress.” For more information to share with your local communities, see the 2023 Culture of Health Prize webpage. Application due date is March 29.

CDC Notice of Funding Opportunity: Pregnant People–Infant Linked Longitudinal Surveillance

The Pregnant People–Infant Linked Longitudinal Surveillance (CDC-RFA-DD-23-0003) importantly assesses the impact of key exposures and outcomes that may negatively affect these populations. To build a comprehensive approach for pregnant people–infant linked longitudinal surveillance, the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders is announcing an opportunity to fund multiple surveillance programs under a single mechanism. To learn more about the funding opportunity, including an overview, how to access the NOFO in Grants.gov, key dates, and Q&As, please visit the NOFO informational web page. Applications due April 10, 2023.

Nominations Open for de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health Class of 2023

The de Beaumont Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 40 Under 40 in Public Health Class of 2023, a program that aims to recognize and support 40 individuals under the age of 40 who are working on public health challenges of today and tomorrow to progress towards healthier communities. Through this recognition and a two-year professional development program, honorees receive exclusive opportunities for personal enrichment and career advancement. Consider nominating yourself or someone else for this opportunity. Applications will be accepted through May 17, and the Class of 2023 will be announced in September. Learn more at debeaumont.org/nominations.

Partner Events & Webinars

Registration for #AHI2023 Now Open

Graphic to promote the 9th Annual Conference on Adolescent Health on May 11-12, Translating Research Into Practice. Registration opened February 6, 2023. Join a multi-disciplinary, international audience of over 450 health professionals for two days of dynamic breakout sessions, poster presentations, youth-led sessions, and networking events. As the Adolescent Health Initiative (AHI) works to translate research into practice, 100% of the sessions at this year’s event will be co-facilitated by youth, and the planning of the Conference will be guided by the AHI Teen Advisory Council (TAC TAC). Continuing Education Credits will be available for attending.

The Annual Conference on Adolescent Health offers sessions on Primary Care, Mental Health, Sexual Health, School-Based Health, and Community-Based Interventions. For the 2023 Conference, AHI added two new categories – Youth Engagement and Technology & Communication. This year’s event will also showcase sessions that address social determinants of health, racism as a public health crisis, PCOR/CER-funded research, and works that address the many needs of youth as it relates to their intersecting identities.

A few exciting presentations that interdisciplinary health care professionals will facilitate are Promoting Positive Transitions from Pediatric to Adult Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents, Centering Young People and Their Many Intersecting Identities in Adolescent Health Research, and Sex Education for Learners with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

With the Conference’s shift to a virtual event, AHI has adjusted attendance fees accordingly. Follow this link to learn more about Conference pricing and scholarship support for 2023.

Publications & Resources

New Child Trends Research Blog Posts on Black Children and Neighborhood Amenities

Child Trends has released two new research blogs focusing on Black children and neighborhood amenities:

Most Black Children Live in Neighborhoods That Lack Amenities Associated with Child Well-being

By Mavis Sanders, Jennifer Winston, and Shana E. Rochester

This research data show that most Black children in the U.S. live in neighborhoods that lack amenities associated with children’s healthy development and well-being, especially Black children in the South. Child Trends’ new datapoint explains the benefits of these amenities for Black children’s social, emotional, and physical well-being and academic achievement. Authors suggest that additional research is necessary to fully understand how the presence and quality of neighborhood amenities affect Black children across gender, age, location, and family income.

Black Adolescents Are More Likely to Flourish in Neighborhoods Featuring Four Key Amenities

By Mavis Sanders, Jennifer Winston, and Shana E. Rochester

This new Child Trends datapoint finds a correlation between neighborhood amenities (e.g., libraries and outdoor spaces) and Black adolescents’ flourishing (i.e., mental health and well-being) using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health. The analysis finds that Black adolescents are more likely to flourish—a condition of mental well-being associated with positive personal and social functioning—when they have access to sidewalks/walking paths, recreational centers, parks/playgrounds, and libraries/bookmobiles in their neighborhoods.

Free Father Engagement Resources in Newly Designed Learning Center

The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) is well known for providing great father involvement research, programs, resources, and other planning services to help you and your organization engage fathers effectively. The initiative has recently redesigned its FREE Learning Center, which houses over 170 free resources to help programs engage fathers, to create an even better user experience! Check out some examples of their newest resources: