October 10, 2025

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October 10, 2025

AMCHP Member Briefs Banner, a bi-weekly newsletter

AMCHP Annual Conference

The AMCHP Annual Conference is one of the largest gatherings of maternal and child health (MCH) professionals in the United States. Every year, our conference aims to highlight MCH programs’ impact at all levels on women, children, and families and to provide participants with tools and resources to develop, enhance, and sustain vital MCH programs and services.

Subscribe to our Annual Conference Newsletter to be among the first to receive updates and information about our 2026 conference in Washington, DC.

Early Bird Registration for the 2026 AMCHP Annual Conference is Now Open

Early bird registration for the 2026 AMCHP Annual Conference is open!

Take advantage of our early bird pricing to attend one of the largest gatherings of maternal and child health professionals in the country. AMCHP 2026 will take place in person from March 7 – 10, 2026, at The Westin, Washington DC Downtown, in Washington, DC.

Don’t miss out on our early bird rates! Register by January 9, 2026, and complete your payment later to secure your spot at the best price.

The Call for Proposals for AMCHP 2026 is Open Through October 31

Proposals for discussion sessions, workshops, digital posters, and roundtables that support our 2026 theme, The Power of Connection, are now being accepted for evaluation through October 31 under any of the eight topical areas:

Epidemiology, Data, Assessment, and Evaluation
Family, Youth, and Community Engagement and Partnership
Housing, Nutrition, and Other Social Determinants of Health
Indigeneity and Health
Mental and Behavioral Health
Policy and Impact
Title V Administration
Workforce Development and Leadership

Plan to share your work by the deadline! AMCHP staff estimates that it takes about 2 hours to put all the content pieces together and 15-20 minutes to fill out the submission forms. Submitters with completed proposals by October 31 will be notified of their sessions’ status by December 15.

Back again this year! AMCHP is accepting video submissions in place of the written submission for workshops and discussion sessions. Please focus your 5-minute submission video on questions 1-7 of the session/proposal details page.

Want more information about the process? Watch the recording of our call for proposals webinar (passcode: sfh2PH6#).

Start planning your sessions or poster proposal now! The deadline will not be extended.

Learn more and submit your proposal.

AMCHP Events & Webinars

Webinar Series on Aligning Prenatal-to-Three Systems for Impact: A Connection-Centered Learning Experience for Title V

This October, AMCHP invites you to a new, two-part virtual learning experience designed exclusively for Title V staff as part of their AMCHP member benefits: Aligning Prenatal-to-Three Systems for Impact. This series is an adaptation of the successful 2025 AMCHP conference skills-building session and creates space for reflection, peer connection, and creativity during a challenging time in our field.

Together, we will explore how to connect women/maternal, infant/perinatal, and child health Block Grant domain strategies through messaging, systems thinking, and collaboration so that your Title V Block Grant work reflects a cohesive PN3 approach.

Thursday, October 23 and 30 from 2:00–4:00 PM ET on Zoom
💲 Exclusive for AMCHP members as part of their benefits
👥 Team participation encouraged—ideally two or more per state

What to Expect:

A welcoming, small-group environment limited to 40 participants
Two, 2-hour Zoom sessions with light presentation + guided peer discussion
A consistent space to feel grounded, inspired, and supported

Why Attend:

Whether you are navigating competing priorities, shifting political climates, or implementation challenges, this experience will offer:

Practical tools and language to help make the case for prenatal-to-three investment
Support in adapting your strategies without losing your purpose
Connection with peers who understand your context
Space to cultivate optimism, clarity, and alignment

Tangible Take-Aways:

Message framing for PN3: Walk away with powerful talking points to make the case for investing in the prenatal-to-3 period.
Systems change analysis: Unlock fresh insights on how maternal, infant, and child health efforts can work together for bigger impact.
Internal practice shifts: Discover practical ways you can implement collaboration best practices to shift your day-to-day work away from siloed population domains towards a broader and more collaborative PN3 focus.
Plain language communication: Get plain language strategies to tell a clear, compelling PN3 story that resonates.

Registration is free, but space is limited. Complete the interest form by October 10. Please note that by registering, you commit to attending both sessions.

AMCHP staff members will then review your responses and confirm attendance within 5 business days. Registration will be closed after capacity is reached or by the deadline. Email Salome at saraya@amchp.org for any questions.

Legislation & Policy

Explore our Maternal & Child Health Bill Tracker for more information about pending federal legislation to improve maternal health. Additionally, download AMCHP’s Federal Policy Agenda, which outlines our current advocacy focus.

Subscribe to AMCHP’s Policy Alerts and Digest to stay up to date with the latest policy information.

Policy Alert: Congress Fails to Come to a Funding Agreement, Government Shuts Down

Congress has failed to reach an agreement to either fund the government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 or extend FY 2025 funding, resulting in a government shutdown beginning October 1, 2025. As a result, HHS is now operating under a contingency staffing plan with a sharply reduced workforce, furloughing approximately 41% of its nearly 80,000 employees. This staff reduction further strains the agency’s ability to manage and coordinate public health initiatives.

While certain “essential” activities, such as Medicaid payments and outbreak monitoring at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will continue, many federally-supported maternal and child health (MCH) programs now face immediate interruptions, delays, and uncertainty. Title V oversight, first-quarter MCH Block Grant awards, and key CDC maternal and infant health activities are examples of activities paused for the duration of the shutdown.

The shutdown has immediate and significant consequences for MCH programs, providers, and families nationwide.

Read our full Policy Alert.

AMCHP Policy and Partnerships Town Halls

Thank you to those of you who joined us for our previous AMCHP Policy and Partnerships Town Hall! You can find the full recordings of past Town Halls on our Government Affairs webpage.

Please register to join us for our next edition on November 13, from 2-3 PM ET at this registration link.

Opportunities & Funding

Now Open! State Applications for the National MCH Workforce Development Center’s Summer 2026 Title V MCH Internship Program

State applications are now open for the National MCH Workforce Development Center’s summer 2026 Title V MCH Internship Program!

Selected states will host an in-person team of two graduate/undergraduate maternal and child health (MCH) student interns who complete a 10-week project of the state’s choosing. Students often complete projects involving data collection or analysis, literature reviews, or the development of communication materials.

There is no cost to Title V agencies that participate in the program. The Center provides student interns with structured support and accountability, along with stipends for the internship and housing.

Apply by November 3!

Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) National Pediatric Readiness Quality Initiative Collaborative

The EMSC Program is launching the next cohort of the National Pediatric Readiness Quality Initiative (NPRQI) Collaborative (formerly known as the Pediatric Readiness Quality Collaborative or PRQC). This FREE collaborative will help Emergency Department (ED)-based teams develop or strengthen existing pediatric QI plans and in doing so, help them improve their Pediatric Readiness, just in time for the 2026 National Pediatric Readiness Project Assessment! The collaborative kicks off in January and is designed specifically for smaller EDs. Participating sites will gain access to NPRQI, a user-friendly platform that tracks 28 pediatric quality metrics, along with expert QI coaching, tailored intervention bundles, and practical tools to support initiatives in head trauma, pain assessment, suicide screening and management, and abnormal vital signs reassessment.

Learn more or register.

Free Resource for Job Seekers – The AMCHP Career Center: Connecting Talent with Opportunity

AMCHP offers access to top job opportunities in our industry. Job seekers can access the AMCHP Career Center to search and apply for open positions at no cost, while employers can post their jobs for a fee! Search for Jobs | Post a Job.

Do you know someone who is looking for a new job or opportunity? Share the AMCHP Career Center with them!

Partner Events & Webinars

National Indian Health Board’s 2025 Maternal Health Promotion Institute

Join the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) on October 28 and 30, from 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET, for two afternoons focused on advancing maternal health promotion.

The Maternal Health Promotion Institute (MHPI) is NIHB’s annual, virtual webinar series that brings together Tribal leaders, providers, and advocates to share knowledge, strengthen connections, and highlight strategies that improve maternal health across Indian Country.

Day One – October 28

Speaker: Tess Abrahamson-Richards, MPH (Spokane)
Title: Incarcerated Relatives are Missing from Our Communities Too: Understanding Connections between the Criminal Legal System, MMIW/P, and Violence Against Indigenous Women

Day Two – October 30

Speaker: Dr. Charlene Aqpik Apok, (Iñupiaq) 
Title: Carrying Futures, Honoring Ancestors: Indigenous Birth Justice and MMIR

This webinar is free and open to all interested. NIHB anticipates a heavy presence of Urban and Tribal communities, advocates, Birthworkers, and community-led programming. NIHB encourages the attendance of our Urban Indian Health Centers, Tribal leaders, and policy champions to increase the collective awareness and shared mission that will drive the work into the future. 

Learn more and register.

Two-Part Webinar Series: Demystifying Digital Maternal Mental Health Platforms for Providers and Parents

The demands of the maternal mental health crisis require innovation, and digital health tools are offering promising solutions — but which tools are safe and effective?

To bring clarity to this rapidly evolving field, the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) is hosting a two-part webinar series featuring vetted experts who will discuss digital platforms that have been proven to:

Help PROVIDERS deliver more effective maternal mental health care and improve the efficiency of their practice operations.
Help PARENTS receive timely resources and support that improve maternal mental health outcomes.

Part 2: Digital MMH Platforms that Serve PARENTS

Thursday, October 23
12:00 – 1:00 PM ET

Learn more and register!

It Takes a Village: Provider Partnerships to Support D/HH Children and Their Families – An AAP ECHO Program

Learn how to improve the care and development of young children!

Public health organizations, family-based organizations, and other lived expertise partners collaborate closely with providers in creating systems that ensure children who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) and their families receive timely, coordinated, and family-centered care. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Provider Education Center (EHDI PEC) is hosting an ECHO program for all providers who care for young children, It takes a Village: Provider Partnerships to Support D/HH Children and Their Families ECHO Program. This ECHO will focus on increasing the knowledge, confidence, and capacity of providers to collaborate across the EHDI system to better serve D/HH children and their families. Public health programs, family-based organizations, and other lived expertise partners are also welcome to join and/or share these opportunities with providers that you work with.

Each ECHO session will include a live American Sign Language interpreter and other necessary accommodations, such as closed captioning, to ensure all learners can fully participate.

This ECHO will be held twice in October 2025 and once per month from November 2025 to February 2026. To learn more, view the linked program flyer.

Questions? Contact AAP ECHO at aapecho@aap.org. 