June 15, 2023

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June 15, 2023

AMCHP Announcements

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Title V MCH Services Block Grant – Guideline Updates Feedback

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is updating the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to States Program: Guidance and Forms for the Title V Application/Annual Report. AMCHP would like your feedback regarding these updates. Please use this survey link to learn more regarding the proposed updates and provide feedback by Monday, July 3.

AMCHP Invites You to Our Annual Business Meeting Held Virtually on June 22

Graphic alerting of AMCHP Annual Business Meeting. June 22, 2023 at 3pm ET. Join us to recognize newly appointed Board Members and welcome 2023 Officers. Located on Zoom with link.

AMCHP invites our members, partners, and other interested stakeholders to our Annual Business meeting, to be held on June 22, from 3–4 PM ET. Join us virtually to recognize newly appointed Board Members and welcome 2023 Officers. Register at www.bit.ly/AMCHP-ABM23.

Latest MCH Bridges Podcast – Youth Perspectives on Mental Health: Supporting the Next Generation

MCH Bridges podcast banner alerting of new episode 15: Youth Perspectives on Mental Health: Supporting the Next Generation. Guest speakers are Melanie Avila, Fanta Guindo, Yeina Han.

Our newest MCH Bridges episode is live! Episode 15– “Youth Perspectives on Mental Health: Supporting the Next Generation”

In this MCH Bridges episode, three members of The Adolescent Champion Teen Advisory Council (TAC TAC), Melanie Avila, Fanta Guindo, and Yeina Han, share what adolescent and young adult mental health looks like in their communities, what they have experienced, and what needs to change. This episode talks about important concepts like positive youth development, youth-friendly services, and culturally competent care. It also identifies strategies for addressing barriers to youth seeking and accessing mental health services.

Tune in now to listen to host Maura Leahy and youth speakers Melanie, Fanta, and Yenia as they share their experiences and insights.

Disclaimer: This episode discusses mental health issues and mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please dial 988 immediately to call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 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.

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 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"

Thank you to the more than 1,300 maternal and child health (MCH) leaders and thinkers that joined us in New Orleans or virtually from May 6–9, 2023 for our 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference. Over 1,000 individuals joined us in person and more than 300 virtually, making this event again one of the largest gatherings of MCH professionals in the United States.

Subscribe to our mailing list at the bottom of our conference webpage to be among the first to receive updates about our conference in 2024 and share the subscribe link with your friends and peers! Stay up to date with the latest on MCH and AMCHP information, resources, events, and job openings by following us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Interested in revisiting information on the 2023 AMCHP Annual Conference? Make sure to visit our blog and podcast page to read the latest on this year’s conference!

Reminder: AMCHP Conference Investment Letter Survey

Graphic alerting of AMCHP Conference Investment Letter Survey. Image of participants at AMCHP 2023. Please help us understand the reach and impact of this year’s AMCHP Conference Investment Letter by completing this short survey. Take a few minutes to help us learn what we can do better to disseminate this letter next year!

What is the AMCHP Conference Investment Letter?

As a part of our strategic plan, AMCHP is trying to institutionalize opportunities to cultivate high-quality relationships with community-based organizations, people with lived experience, thought leaders, and others who can advance our mission and initiatives. One way AMCHP has done this is by creating and disseminating an investment letter for youth, community-based organizations (CBOs), and family leaders with the aim of making the conference more inclusive. The purpose of this letter is to encourage state Title V programs and others to financially support youth, CBOs, and family leaders to attend the conference and share their insights and expertise with others.

You Still Have Access to All Conference Content!

Do you wish to revisit your favorite session or engage with the live content you might have missed? For a year, registered participants will have access to all the on-demand content, live plenary sessions, workshops, and more! Visit the conference platform, log in with your access key, and continue to be inspired by all the outstanding speakers and participants this year on your own time.

Save the Date for AMCHP 2024 and Beyond!

AMCHP Events & Webinars

Upcoming Coffee Chat with AMCHP CEO: MCH Talent

Graphic alerting to join our Workforce Development and Leadership Committee for Coffee Chats with AMCHP CEO Terrance E. Moore. Tuesday, June 20 from 1-2:15pm ET. Register at bit.ly/CEO_WLDC3. Join our Workforce and Leadership Development Committee for our last session of the Coffee Chats with AMCHP CEO, Terrance E. Moore series to discuss one of the core areas of our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan: Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Talent.

From these discussions, we hope to provide our members and current/potential partners with:

An overview of available workforce-related data relevant to the MCH field;
An open forum to share and gather strategies that AMCHP can implement to achieve our MCH talent and workforce objectives; and
Opportunities to inform and guide our strategic plan.

If you are an AMCHP Member interested in joining, please register for this session happening virtually on June 20, 1 – 2:15 PM ET.

AMCHP Information & Resources

Resources for Medicaid Renewals

As of April 1, 2023, all states are engaged in the process of unwinding the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision that was put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide continuous healthcare coverage for those enrolled in the Medicaid program. During the pandemic, the Medicaid program grew by nearly 30%, providing coverage for over 93 million individuals, including children. Now all Medicaid enrollees will be redetermined for eligibility. Advocates are concerned about the loss of or disruption in coverage for maternal and child health (MCH) populations.

Initial data from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that at least 728,000 Medicaid enrollees have been disenrolled as of June 9. The majority of Medicaid enrollees are still unaware that renewals are happening. MCH programs have a critical role to play in sharing communications and working with families to ensure they are aware this is happening and to minimize disruptions in coverage.

AMCHP has a fact sheet and a recent webinar on this topic and several resources in the works. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a vast array of resources available including communications in multiple languages. If you have any questions or want to connect with an AMCHP team member on this topic, please contact Atyya Chaudhry at Achaudhry@amchp.org.

AMCHP Mental Health Corner

June is Pride Month! Being your authentic self is one of the best ways to protect your #MentalHealth. Learn more about the intersection of mental health and LGBTQ+ individuals at www.mhanational.org/pride. In particular, the trans community faces higher rates of mental health challenges than any other LGBTQ+ identity group. In Episode 10 of AMCHP’s MCH Bridges Podcast – Queering Perinatal Mental Health – Leo Andreas (he/him) and Jenna “JB” Brown (they/he) joined 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, shared his mental health experiences of his journey to parenthood. And JB, a full-spectrum doula and community educator, explained 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. 

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

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.

Legislation & Policy

Explore our revamped Maternal & Child Health Bill Tracker for more information about pending federal legislation to improve maternal health. Also, download AMCHP’s 2023 Federal Policy Agenda outlining where we intend to focus our advocacy work.

White House Announces New Federal Actions to Address Behavioral Health Crisis

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the White House has announced a series of new federal actions to increase access to quality behavioral health care. Of note to maternal and child health populations are increased investments in early childhood and youth mental health services; guidance on providing mental health services in schools under Medicaid; and the announcement of $65 million for HRSA-funded health centers to provide maternal mental health services. The actions also include the launch of a new online resource finder for individuals seeking behavioral health services. You can read the comprehensive list of federal actions addressing behavioral health on the White House website.

U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has issued an advisory warning on the impacts of social media on youth mental health. While the advisory acknowledges the positive effects of social media for some children, it focuses on the known negative impacts that have played a role in the current youth mental health crisis. Dr. Murthy calls for lawmakers and technology companies to consider policies strengthening protections, increasing data security, and supporting technology literacy curricula in schools, amongst other calls to action. To learn more, you can read the U .S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health and view federal legislation to improve youth mental health on the AMCHP Maternal and Child Health Bill Tracker.

Black Maternal Health Momnibus and Other Maternal Health Bills Introduced in Congress in Recognition of Mother’s Day

Federal lawmakers introduced a flurry of legislation aimed at improving maternal health care, access, and outcomes to coincide with Mother’s Day on May 15th. Amongst the bills was the comprehensive set of bills known as the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. Each of the 13 individual bills addresses a driver of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities in the United States. Learn more about the Black Maternal Health Momnibus on the Black Maternal Health Caucus website and about this and other maternal health legislation on the AMCHP Maternal and Child Health Bill Tracker.

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 on our Government Affairs webpage. Town Halls occur on the second Thursday of every month from 2-3 PM ET. We invite you to register for all future Town Halls at this link.

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.

Website Manager, Communications: AMCHP is seeking a Website Manager to oversee the organization’s website, www.amchp.org. This Website Manager is an experienced, resourceful, and energetic member of the Communications team who will support AMCHP to engage our partners, share knowledge, and maintain resources on our website and across our digital platforms. The Website Manager is an integral member of AMCHP who will work with our team members to maintain and improve our website, using WordPress CMS, and digital platforms, manage enhancements and fixes, and ensure accessibility and an overall positive user experience. This position will be filled by a highly competent information technology/website professional who is a problem-solver, has excellent website design and technical skills, sophisticated decision-making abilities, and a flexible, open, and collaborative attitude. [learn more and apply]
Consultant, Qualitative Data Collection: AMCHP seeks proposals from vendors to conduct a series of key informant interviews (KIIs) related to health equity in Title V/CYSHCN programs. The selected vendor will conduct and transcribe up to 110 KIIs and work with AMCHP staff in conducting analysis. All work will occur virtually. All interviews will be conducted in English. [learn more and apply]

PMHCA Program Funding Announcement Modification

Please note that the notice of funding opportunity for the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) Program has been modified. Modifications have been made to eligibility criteria and to award amounts. The new application due date is June 22. There are now three types of awards available through this funding opportunity:

Competing continuation awards – For entities that received an award in FY 2018 and 2019 and whose project period is ending. View the list of all currently funded PMHCA projects. Up to $700,000 per award
New applicants with previous HRSA PMHCA implementation experience- For states, political subdivisions of states, territories, and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations not currently funded in FY 2021 or 2022. Up to $700,000 per award.
New applicants with no prior HRSA PMHCA implementation experience- For new applicants with no prior HRSA PMHCA experience: Eligible applicants include States, political subdivisions of states, territories, and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations not currently funded in FY 2021 or 2022. Up to $500,000 per award.

To view and access this modified opportunity package, please see the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) NOFO (HRSA-23-081).

Click on “Package”
Click on “Preview”
Click on “Download Instructions”

For questions related to the PMHCA Program, please contact Madhavi Reddi or Jordanna Snyder. For help with the application, watch the PMHCA Pre-Application TA Webinar #1. This webinar is for both new and competing continuation applicants. New applicants can watch the PMHCA Pre-Application TA Webinar #2.

RWJF Funding Opportunity: Addressing Structural Barriers to Economic Inclusion for Children and Families

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is offering funding ranging between $250,000 and $750,000 per project (for up to 10 projects) for ideas/approaches that reimagine existing policies to better serve families; and build an economy that prioritizes their success. Proposals should demonstrate:

A clear benefit to families with children grounded in families’ realities and their stated resource needs to raise healthy, thriving children.
Potential to shift current economic practices, approaches, and tactics by demonstrating the feasibility and benefit of alternative structural solutions.
Understanding of the opportunity to leverage and build from this idea to advance toward transformative change for families.

Visit their webpage to learn more about eligibility, application requirements, and applicant webinar. Application deadline is June 21.