August 10, 2023

Back to Member Briefs

August 10, 2023

AMCHP Announcements

Never miss our updates! Sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Title V Landscape for Data Needs and Opportunities

AMCHP is working with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative’s Data Resource Center to assess the data needs of Title V affiliates. Additionally, we are interested in your knowledge base of the Data Resource Center and its work with the National Survey of Children’s Health. Please take a moment to complete this short survey by September 1 to assess your organization’s data needs and interest in future data opportunities.

Deadline Approaching! Apply for AMCHP’s Leadership Lab by August 11

Leadership Lab flyer describing the five cohorts. More at amchp.org/leadership-lab AMCHP believes that achieving our vision of a skilled, flexible, and diverse workforce starts with investing in the leadership journeys of individuals serving in many different roles and settings. Leadership Lab is a unique opportunity for those affiliated or working with jurisdictional Title V programs (staff, consultants, volunteers) to accelerate their professional development in a way that is framed by the MCH Leadership Competencies and guided by adult learning principles.

Comprised of five (5) unique cohorts that run concurrently from September 2023 through May 2024, Leadership Lab exposes participants to information and resources that are relevant for their current and future roles; encourages the development and continuous revision of individualized leadership plans; challenges participants through collaborative activities and thoughtful discussions; cultivates a peer learning and accountability network; and provides participants with ongoing support from a matched mentor and AMCHP staff.

Are you or someone on your staff looking for a great professional development opportunity? Check out the Leadership Lab page of website for more information – including a description of core program components and an application link.

The deadline to apply is Friday, August 11, and decisions will be communicated to applicants by Wednesday, August 23.

Join AMCHP’s Family Engagement Community of Practice (CoP)

Are you looking for ideas and insights on engaging families more in the work of your Title V program? This may be the opportunity for you! Join the AMCHP Family Engagement Community of Practice (CoP). The goal of the AMCHP Family Engagement CoP is to increase Title V capacity to engage families in their work. The CoP provides a platform to share ideas, innovations, lessons learned, successes, and best practices from subject matter experts. The CoP is an eight-month commitment with meetings once per month from September 2023 – April 2024. (There will not be a meeting in December)

We encourage those working with families and on family engagement initiatives across Title V & MCH to express your interest in joining our CoP by Friday, August 18. Learn more about this opportunity in our informational handout and share with your network!

For questions, contact Michelle Crawford, Senior Specialist, Family Leadership Initiatives at mcrawford@amchp.org.

August Pulse Issue Now Available

Graphic alerting new August 2023 Pulse issue available: A bi-monthly AMCHP newsletter. Image of a father with two kids. The latest issue of our Pulse newsletter is now live! August’s Pulse issue includes reflections and updates from our CEO, Terrance E. Moore, on our annual conference, our Board of Directors, our commitment to workplace well-being, and the November Title V Federal-State Partnership Meeting – planned in partnership between the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and AMCHP.

This issue also covers common themes identified at the 2023 conference “Sharing Your How: Cultivating Diverse Leaders” plenary session, father-friendly recommendations and resources on grief and mental health, a spotlight on a Medicaid case at the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as highlights on the Virtual Dental Home Initiative in Maine.

Read the articles:

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

Submit to the MCH Innovations Database Ahead of our Fall 2023 Review Period!

The Fall Review for the MCH Innovations Database begins on Friday, September 15! This means that all submissions received on or before September 15 will be included in this 2023 Fall Review cycle. All submissions received after this date (on or after September 16) will be rolled into our Spring 2024 review cycle (date to be announced). Application materials including submission forms for each practice designation are currently available on AMCHP’s Innovation Hub site on the “Submit a Practice” tab. Check out this short overview video of the submission process to learn more.

AMCHP recognizes the validity of many forms of evidence, given that public health work is context-specific and happens in real life. We strongly believe in the power of community-defined evidence and seek to promote its use in the MCH field to center and highlight the expertise and perspectives of those with lived experience. AMCHP encourages community-based organizations to submit their practices and policies to the MCH Innovations Database, regardless of whether it’s been evaluated by traditional methods. Learn more about how AMCHP thinks about evidence and view an example of community-defined evidence. 

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

If you would like 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! 

Disability Pride Month & Celebrating Autistic Joy

AMCHP is looking for submissions to their celebrating autistic joy opportunity. The rainbow colored infinity sign represents neurodiversity. The AMCHP and SPHARC logos show that they are sponsoring the opportunity. As Disability Pride Month just ended in July, we wanted to remind people about the “Celebrating Autistic Joy” opportunity. This opportunity was first created in April 2023 for Autism Acceptance Month by AMCHP’s State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC) and the Autistic Faculty. We at SPHARC realized that it is not enough to just celebrate autistic joy in April, so we will keep the “Celebrating Autistic Joy” opportunity open all year.

This idea of celebrating autistic joy is not meant to negate or minimize any of the difficulties and challenges Autistic people face. Instead, it is meant to shift the perspectives and beliefs of providers that care for Autistic people, anyone that works in the autism and developmental disabilities field, and the general public so that they see that Autistic people are more than just their challenges. That is why SPHARC and the Autistic Faculty created this space for lifting up positive experiences for any Autistic people who want to share them.

We want to hear from Autistic people about what it means to celebrate Autistic joy. You can share what autism looks like to you, your strengths, special interests, and passions. Submissions can be a video, audio file, written words, or art. SPHARC will highlight these submissions on our SPHARC website, social media, and via the SPHARC newsletter.

Please share this opportunity with any Autistic people or organizations you work with. Learn more about this opportunity and submit via our Google Form.

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.

Stay up to date with the latest on MCH and AMCHP information, resources, events, and job openings by subscribing to our mailing list and 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!

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 one 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

Save the date and be among the first to know about our future conferences by subscribing to our mailing list at the bottom of our conference webpage, and share our subscribe link with your friends and peers!

Save the Dates graphic. AMCHP 2024 will be held in Oakland, CA, from April 13 to 16. AMCHP 2025 will be held in Washington, DC, from March 15 to 18. AMCHP 2026 will be held in Washington, DC, from March 7 to 10.

Voices of AMCHP

Tobi Adeyeye Amosun, MD, FAAP – Director-At-Large (2022-2025)

As part of our Voices of AMCHP series, designed to highlight our dedicated Board members and their work, we invited Dr. Amosun to share some insights on her background, experience serving on AMCHP’s Board of Directors, and her advice for young maternal and child health (MCH) professionals.

What motivated you to join AMCHP’s Board of Directors?

I was motivated to join AMCHP because as a relatively new leader in MCH policy, I needed to deepen my knowledge of MCH and the regional and national landscape. I have enjoyed the networking opportunities and being able to work very far upstream when it comes to policies. I have a very deep fund of knowledge in clinical health; my public health background was not quite as robust. I knew that being involved at this level would be a crash course in MCH policy.

How has your time been settling in your first year on AMCHP’s Board of Directors?

I have enjoyed getting involved with the Board of Directors. They have been lovely and welcoming, and the in-person meetings have been quite fulfilling. It can be tricky to fit in all of the activities, there are many opportunities to connect on state, regional, and national levels.

Read the full interview.

AMCHP Information & Resources

2023 Medicaid Renewal Process

As of early August, nearly 4 million people have lost their Medicaid coverage due to the national Medicaid redetermination process, which is ongoing through March 2024. The volume of cases – and states’ capacity to manage them – presents a significant risk for coverage loss, particularly in MCH populations. MCH advocates are also concerned about the fast pace of disenrollments in states.

Learn more about your state’s progress using these interactive maps, Georgetown CCF State Unwinding Renewal Data, and Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is promoting an ‘all hands-on-deck‘ approach to the Medicaid redetermination process to minimize coverage loss and is encouraging states to slow the pace of disenrollments, most of which are occurring for procedural reasons.

You can also visit AMCHP’s Resource Library and filter by “Promoting Coverage for MCH” to find more information, facts sheets, toolkits, webinar recordings, and more.

Examples of AMCHP resources include:

Be sure to also follow AMCHP on social media as we will continue to post timely information, resources, and events on this topic. 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.

2023 SPHARC Peer-to-Peer Exchange Recap

More than 60 participants from eight state teams gathered in person on June 13-14, 2023 for the annual State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC) Peer-to-Peer Exchange! The event was held on the University of North Carolina campus, in Chapel Hill, hosted and facilitated by North Carolina’s state team, with support from AMCHP staff, Paige Bussanich, Mallory Cyr, and Maura Leahy.  

State teams in attendance were current (Iowa, North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee) and former (Ohio, Delaware, Minnesota) Health Resources and Services Administration state autism grantees. 

The theme of the exchange was Family Navigation: Enhancing Culturally Responsive Partnerships and Sustainability. The rich agenda focused on identifying solutions for sustaining Family Navigation supports that extend beyond funding parameters, discussing strategies for enhancing cultural perspectives and engagement among diverse community-based providers and participants, and understanding the national status of screening/referral/follow-up in pediatric practices. 

During this event, there were several networking opportunities as well as activities such as: 

A presentation of the North Carolina team’s Family Navigation Guide, complete with a live website demo 
Learning about National Trends and Approaches to Assessing and Addressing Early Childhood Developmental Delay 
Discussion of strategies and lessons learned related to family and peer navigation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and ways to collaborate with Medicaid
A panel on “Incorporating Personal Perspectives into Professional Role,” with 6 presenters, including 3 adolescents and young adults, who all brought different perspectives of lived experience 
A panel on “Cultural Perspectives on Sustainability,” with presenters representing diverse cultural populations and lived experiences 
Using and applying learnings from the Program Sustainability Assessment Tool

Highlights from the event were captured by a local graphic recorder, Hope, from A Visual Approach:

AMCHP Mental Health Corner

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 MCAH? 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.

AMCHP Leads National Organization Letter to Congress Urging Passage of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act

Earlier this week, AMCHP led 85 national organizations in a letter to Congressional leadership in support of swiftly passing the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R.3838/S.2415). This legislation would authorize federal funding support for state-based maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) through 2028. The original Preventing Maternal Deaths Act (P.L.115-344) passed in 2018 is set to expire at the end of this fiscal year; however, Congress can continue funding the program through the annual appropriations process beyond this fiscal year. Learn more about the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act in the national organization sign-on letter and on AMCHP’s Maternal & 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.

Chief Government Affairs Officer: This position is accountable for the development and implementation of AMCHP’s public policy and government affairs strategies and the advancement of maternal and child health (MCH) in the U.S. by working on initiatives that support AMCHP’s legislative agenda. This individual maintains a commitment to dismantling structural racism and rebuilding the policy systems that serve our communities in ways that center racial and other forms of equity. The position reports to the CEO. [learn more and apply]
Policy Team Intern: AMCHP is recruiting a policy team intern for the Fall/Winter of 2023. This is a paid part-time position that requires a minimum of 15 hours per week. AMCHP’s internship program is open to currently enrolled students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Individuals who have already graduated are also eligible. Our program is also designed to allow interns to gain practical work experience; provide opportunities for interns to explore their strengths and interests more fully; and provide AMCHP an opportunity to become involved in the preparation of future public health professionals. [learn more and apply]

Deadline Extended! Stipend Opportunity for Community-Based Organizations

Graphic alerting deadline extended: Stipend for Community-Based Organizations. The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to pilot a compensation model for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) advancing racial justice for birthing people to be equitably engaged as members or collaborators of state or local Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs). Apply by August 18: bit.ly/CBO_MMRC. AMCHP has extended the deadline to apply for a new stipend opportunity for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to pilot a compensation model for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) advancing racial justice for birthing people to be equitably engaged as members or collaborators of state or local Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs).

This RFP seeks applications from CBOs to pilot this compensation model. AMCHP recommends that CBOs that partner with MMRCs be compensated at a minimum of $300 per hour for their time. This rate should be reflected irrespective of proposed activities, including preparing for and attending MMRC meetings. The application deadline is August 18.

Partner Events & Webinars

HAPPENING TODAY: Connecting Maternal Health and Chronic Disease for Maternal Mortality Prevention Webinar

Graphic alerting of webinar: Connecting Maternal Health & Chronic Disease for Maternal Mortality Prevention. August 10, 3pm ET. Join the AMCHP and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors for a a presentation of the latest data on maternal mortality and recommendations for translating data into action. www.bit.ly/3qlgxF6. Register for the ”Connecting Maternal Health and Chronic Disease for Maternal Mortality Prevention” webinar happening TODAY, August 10 at 3 pm ET, join Lisa Hollier, MD, and Susanna Trost, MPH, with the CDC Maternal Mortality Prevention Team for a presentation of the latest data on maternal mortality from MMRCs across the U.S. They will also share recommendations for translating data into action, with a focus on the role of chronic disease prevention and control in reducing maternal mortality.

This webinar is produced by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, in partnership with AMCHP.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Describe the role of Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs).
Summarize key findings from MMRC data, including underlying chronic disease-related causes of pregnancy-related deaths.
Explain the role of policy and practice improvements in preventing maternal mortality and reducing disparities in maternal mortality.
Identify at least one action to take to improve coordination between chronic disease and maternal and child health programs.

Parent to Parent USA 2023 Leadership Institute

Banner with text: Parent to Parent USA 2023 Leadership Institute: Opening Doors to a Better Future.

First held in 2009, Parent to Parent USA’s Leadership Institute is the only national conference focused solely on the challenges of running a parent-to-parent program. Parent to Parent leaders from across the country share best and promising practices to address the changing needs of families of those with disabilities and special health care needs.

This year, Parent to Parent USA is delighted to invite you to join virtually from October 10-12 for an exceptional event that will bring together Parent to Parent leaders, partners, and volunteers from all corners of the country.

Under the theme Opening Doors to a Better Future, the aim is to explore innovative strategies and approaches that empower families to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities. The ultimate goal of the event is to ensure that no parent feels alone, ever.

Visit their webpage to find information about their upcoming Leadership Institute, and take a look at the call for proposals.

Publications & Resources

New CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children with Laboratory Evidence of Prenatal Zika Virus Exposure

Infection during pregnancy with Zika virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, can cause birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities (1). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability characterized by social and communication impairment and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior or interests (2); possible associations between antenatal exposure to a limited number of viruses and ASD have been observed (2). The U.S. Zika Pregnancy and Infant Registry (USZPIR)* monitors children born from January 1, 2016 – March 31, 2018, to women with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection during pregnancy. The newly published report used data from USZPIR and the Puerto Rico Autism Registry† to estimate the prevalence of ASD diagnoses among children with possible prenatal Zika virus exposure and to describe prenatal characteristics and other outcomes by ASD diagnosis status.

New Blog Post: Tabletop Exercise for the Inclusion of MCH Populations in Emergency Preparedness and Response at NACCHO’s 2023 Preparedness Summit

Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? State/territorial health departments and their local counterparts play critical roles in responding to the many public health crises across the country. Though these crises can and do profoundly impact pregnant people and infants, MCH and emergency preparedness and response (EPR) departments within departments are often siloed. MCH considerations are rarely integrated into emergency planning processes. The COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events, and other public health emergencies have demonstrated a need to support and prioritize MCH populations in the development of EPR training, exercises, and plans.

Earlier this year, representatives from jurisdictions participating in AMCHP’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Learning Collaborative (EPR ALC) joined with local health department leaders for a robust tabletop exercise, i.e., an emergency response simulation, at the National Association of County Health Officials (NACCHO) Preparedness Summit in Atlanta, GA.

A recently published blog post details this activity and offers resources for MCH / CYSHCN leaders interested in building their capacity to engage in preparedness and response activities – including in partnership with colleagues from Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEP).