AMCHP Announcements
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Youth Voice Amplified is Recruiting for its Next Cohort!
Youth Voice Amplified (YVA), a dynamic youth-led committee within the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) is seeking passionate youth and young adults committed to driving community/state-level change, leadership development, and advocacy in state public health.
Our purpose is rooted in the Jemez principles of democratic organizing, ensuring “nothing about us without us.” As a brave space, we embrace listening, learning, and sharing perspectives with all AMCHP members, particularly youth, to amplify our voices. Together, we take action, embrace young people’s lived experiences, and foster empowerment.
As part of our next cohort, you will participate in virtual monthly or bi-monthly meetings, with incentives such as gift cards and stipends for your active engagement. Your contributions will be valued, and you will be compensated for additional projects you help develop. While most activities are virtual, there will be opportunities for in-person gatherings. Submit your application by Thursday, August 31!
For questions about YVA, reach out to us at youthvoice@amchp.org.
Deadline Extended! 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 25. Learn more about this opportunity in our informational handout and share it with your network!
For questions, contact Michelle Crawford, Senior Specialist, Family Leadership Initiatives at mcrawford@amchp.org.
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 Friday, September 1 to assess your organization’s data needs and interest in future data opportunities.
Register for Our Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Federal-State Partnership Meeting
We are excited to announce that AMCHP is partnering with the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to convene the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Federal-State Partnership Meeting.
The Title V MCH Federal-State Partnership Meeting will be held at the historic Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington, DC from Sunday, November 5 – Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Optional pre-meeting sessions will begin the afternoon of November 5, with the required meeting beginning on November 6.
Registration is now open and will close Friday, October 13. There is no registration fee; however, advanced registration is required.
August Pulse Issue Now Available
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:
- A Message from our CEO
- At the AMCHP Annual Conference: Synergizing our Ideas on ‘How’ to Cultivate Diverse Leaders in Maternal and Child Health
- Steps Toward “Father-Friendly” Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Programming: Grief Support for Fathers in the World of MCH
- Spotlight on a Medicaid Case at the Supreme Court of the United States: Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County v Talevski
- Maine’s Virtual Dental Home Initiative Expands Access to Care
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
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 Announced 2023 Board of Directors Election Results
- AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Database Now Accepting Submissions on a Rolling Basis
- Revamped Title V State Profiles
AMCHP Annual Conference
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!
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.
AMCHP Events & Webinars
AMCHP and the American Academy of Pediatrics Virtual Learning Café on Pediatric Mental Health
Come learn about how Title V is addressing the youth mental health crisis! AMCHP and the American Academy of Pediatrics are hosting a virtual learning café series to increase awareness of community-based mental health supports that are available to children/youth and families. Each learning café will include a short didactic presentation, followed by peer-to-peer discussion and questions. Presenters will include staff from MCH Title V programs who have ongoing mental health programs that involve Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) programs and/or pediatric primary care professionals.
The Virginia Department of Health will be featured in our first café session on Thursday, September 7 from 12-1 pm ET. Register for the first learning café!
The next virtual café will be on December 7, from 12-1 pm ET. Please register for the second virtual café. The final two sessions of the four-part series will occur in early 2024. These dates will be released soon.
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:
- Public Service Announcement (PSA) Videos
- Facts Sheet – Opportunities for Title V Programs to Protect Coverage for Children and Families During the Medicaid Redetermination Process
- Webinar Recording – Unwinding the PHE Medicaid Continuous Eligibility Provision: The Role of MCH Advocates
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 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 and Government Affairs Manager: The person hired in this position is a member of AMCHP’s Policy Team and contributes to the advancement of MCH by working on initiatives that support AMCHP’s legislative agenda and transformation of the health care system to better meet the health care needs of women, children, and adolescents, including CYSHCN. The position reports to the Director of Policy and Government Affairs. [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]
Partner Events & Webinars
Parent to Parent USA 2023 Leadership Institute
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
Article: This Nonprofit is Helping Pregnant and Postpartum People During the Maui Wildfires
The needs of pregnant and postpartum people are often forgotten in climate disasters. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, a reproductive health nonprofit, is working to support pregnant and postpartum mothers who have been impacted by the Maui wildfires. Read this recent article from the 19th News(letter) to learn about the organization’s efforts to provide essential resources, supplies, and assistance for those in need.
How the Well Project is Changing the Narrative Around Breastfeeding for People Living With HIV
August is National Breastfeeding Month! Research shows that breastfeeding has many benefits for moms and babies, yet significant disparities persist in the support that women receive in their breastfeeding journeys. This is especially true for birthing parents living with HIV, who have been actively dissuaded from breastfeeding despite evidence showing that breastfeeding does not pose a risk of transmission in cases where the birthing parent has an undetectable viral load and is taking antiretroviral therapy.
The Well Project is a non-profit organization that is working to advance research on breastfeeding and HIV. The Well Project leverages web-based technology to improve health outcomes and quality of life for women who are living with, and are vulnerable to, HIV across the gender spectrum. Their virtual platforms host a plethora of resources including streaming expert conversations, research posters, and factsheets featuring evidence-based, accessible information to support parents living with HIV in their infant-feeding decision-making.
In 2023, thanks to years of advocacy centering the leadership and lived expertise of women living with HIV, in which The Well Project has been a leading voice, the US Perinatal HIV Treatment Guidelines were rigorously updated to:
- Remove language discouraging breast/chestfeeding
- Reflect current knowledge about the low likelihood of HIV transmission through breast milk when the breast/chestfeeding person is taking effective HIV treatment
- Discuss the benefits of breast/chestfeeding
- Encourage informed, shared decision making
Although there is still work to be done, the HHS’s recommendations mark a hallmark moment in the goal of ensuring that policies and recommendations for breastfeeding in this population are rooted in evidence, not stigma.
Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health: How Is My State Performing on NOMs and NPMs?
On the Data Research Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DRC), a project of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI), you can see how your state is performing on 19 National Outcome and National Performance Measures (NOMs and NPMs). There are three ways to compare data across states using the DRC website:
- View findings on single indicators (and by subgroups) for all states using our Across-States Interactive Data Query, and compare to the nation or other states
- Compare states on all NSCH-derived Title V National Outcome and Performance Measures using our Across-State Comparison Tables
- View US maps shaded to indicate how each state’s data differs from the nation on Title V National Outcome and Performance Measures using our Across-State Comparison Maps
The NSCH is a national survey, funded and directed by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA MCHB), that provides rich data on multiple, intersecting aspects of children’s health and well-being – including physical and mental health, access to and quality of health care, and the child’s family, neighborhood, school, and social context. Request NSCH datasets in SAS, Stata, and SPSS formats with accompanying codebooks on the DRC website. For more information, take a short video tour or contact the CAHMI-DRC team through our Ask Us a Question page or email info@cahmi.org.
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).
Commemorations
August 2023
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Digestive Tract Paralysis Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7
National Health Center Week, August 6-12
Indigenous Milk Medicine Week, August 8-14
OSHA’s Safe and Sound Week, August 14-20
Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week, August 15-20
Contact Lens Health Week, August 20-26
Black Breastfeeding Week, August 25-31
Days to Note:
World Lung Cancer Day, August 1
International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31
