October 23, 2025

AMCHP Member Briefs Banner, a bi-weekly newsletter

AMCHP Annual Conference   

The 2026 AMCHP Annual Conference banner features "AMCHP 2026" and the theme "The Power of Connection" in large uppercase letters. It displays the conference date, March 7-10, 2026, and host city, Washington, DC, above the text. The background includes a blend of four images of people and nature. On the right, the conference logo, shaped like a diamond or speech bubble, also features "AMCHP 2026," the dates, and the host city.

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 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.  

Deadline Approaching! The Call for Proposals for AMCHP 2026 Closes October 31  

Graphic alerting that the call for proposals for AMCHP 2026 closes on October 31, 2025. Learn more at bit.ly/CFP-2026

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.   

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     

Graphic promoting AMCHP Policy Alert: bit.ly/PA-100125  

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           

Graphic promoting AMCHP Policy and Partnership Town Hall on Thursday, November 13, from 2-3 PM ET. Register at: bit.ly/AMCHP_PPTH    

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.   

Commemorations   

October 2025        

Domestic Violence Awareness Month  

Eye Injury Prevention Month  

Health Literacy Month  

Healthy Lung Month  

Home Eye Safety Month  

Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month  

National ADHD Awareness Month  

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month  

National Bullying Prevention Month  

National Dental Hygiene Month  

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month  

National Physical Therapy Month  

Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month  

Spina Bifida Awareness Month  

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month  

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month  

Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month  

Spina Bifida Awareness Month  

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month  

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month  

    

Weeks to Note:     

Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 5-11  

National Primary Care Week, October 5-11  

National PA Week, October 6-12  

Bone and Joint Health Action Week, October 12-20  

International Infection Prevention Week, October 15-21  

National Healthcare Quality Week, October 19-25  

Respiratory Care Week, October 19-25  

National Health Education Week, October 19-25  

National Pharmacy Week, October 21-27  

Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31  

    

Days to Note:             

World Meningitis Day, October 5  

World Cerebral Palsy Day, October 6  

National Depression Screening Day, October 7  

World Mental Health Day, October 10  

World Sight Day, October 10  

International Day of the Girl, October 11  

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, October 13  

Global Handwashing Day, October 15  

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, October 15  

World Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, October 15  

World Food Day, October 16  

National Mammography Day, October 17  

World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day, October 19  

World Osteoporosis Day, October 20  

National Check Your Meds Day, October 21  

International Stuttering Awareness Day, October 22  

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, October 26  

World Psoriasis Day, October 29  

World Hypophosphatasia Day, October 30