February 26, 2026

Back to Member Briefs

February 26, 2026

AMCHP Member Briefs Banner, a bi-weekly newsletter

AMCHP Announcements

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

Innovation Hub Spring 2026 Review Now Open Through March 20

AMCHP invites you to submit your work to the MCH Innovations Database ahead of our Spring 2026 Review! This is your opportunity to showcase your practices, policies, or tools that are advancing maternal and child health (MCH) and strengthening communities.

This review cycle, the Innovation Hub is especially looking for Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PQCs) working in the perinatal substance use disorder space to submit any effective practices or policies that are part of their work. This specific call is part of an AMCHP partnership with the CDC, with the ultimate goal of uplifting the work of PQCs in the perinatal SUD space and identifying collaboration opportunities. In addition, this topic is an area of growth for the MCH Innovations Database, and AMCHP is committed to expanding the range of practices and policies showcased in the Innovation Hub. While we want to develop specific topic areas within the database, we continue to welcome submissions of any kind! 

As a reminder, the Innovation Hub has recently added a tool-specific submission track! This new submission form was created to fill the gap for innovations or initiatives that didn’t quite fit with our standard Practice and Policy categories. The goal of spotlighting tools in the MCH Innovations Database is to share examples of tools or other aids that are being used to eliminate obstacles to and promote community wellness among MCH populations. 

AMCHP also invites community-based organizations to submit their practices to the Hub, regardless of whether the practice has been evaluated by experimental or “traditional” methods. We strongly believe in the power of community-defined evidence and promote its use in the MCH field to center and highlight the expertise and perspectives of people navigating MCH systems. Learn more about how AMCHP thinks about evidence and view an example of community-defined evidence.

Visit our website to learn more about submitting a practice or policy.

Applications Now Open! MCH Policy I2A Learning Collaborative

AMCHP is now accepting applications for the Maternal & Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP) I2A Learning Collaborative (I2A LC), a 15-month, action-focused experience designed to help Title V teams turn housing and food security priorities into meaningful policy progress for MCH populations. Cohort runs July 1, 2026 – September 29, 2027. Application deadline: April 30

This opportunity is ideal for Title V teams that:

Have a clear housing and/or food security priority aligned with their 2025 needs assessment.
Have a specific policy direction in mind. For example, not simply “food security” or “housing stability,” but a more defined approach, such as expanding adjunctive eligibility between SNAP and WIC; increasing the priority status of MCH populations on public housing wait lists; strengthening workplace lactation protections, etc.
Are ready to focus their efforts and move from policy ideation to concrete next steps.
Want structured support to advance a policy initiative in their state context.

During the first phase of the I2A LC, teams will examine how housing and food systems currently operate within their defined policy direction, identify practical leverage points where change is possible, and determine a specific policy action to pursue. The remainder of the collaborative is dedicated to advancing that policy toward implementation.

Selected teams will gain:

A national peer network of Title V leaders tackling similar challenges.
Dedicated coaching from AMCHP staff.
Access to targeted technical assistance from a network of policy and subject matter experts.
Sponsored attendance at an in-person convening with protected time to focus on strategy and work directly with AMCHP staff to navigate complex challenges.

Apply by April 30!

Questions? Reach out to Anna Corona Romero at acorona@amchp.org.

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.

Deadline Approaching: Advanced Registration Closes on March 2

Advanced self-registration and payments, which can be done online through our conference platform, close on Monday, March 2. After this date, all registrations, changes, and edits must be done on-site at our conference in Washington, DC. Additionally, payments after March 2 may not reflect when you arrive on-site.

Please note that advanced self-registration may close when we reach our event cap. Once closed, you may reach out to our registration team at amchpreg@conferencemanagers.com to register for the conference. They will assist with your registration if there’s still room. If we’ve reached our event cap, our registration team will notify you about waitlist options.

Don’t miss the chance to secure your spot! Register now and join us for AMCHP 2026.

Conference Highlight – CEO Town Hall: A National MCH Strategy for This Moment

Join AMCHP’s CEO, Terrance E. Moore, on Monday, March 9, from 3:30 PM – 4:20 PM ET, in Anacostia E, for an interactive town hall introducing AMCHP’s proposed National Maternal and Child Health Strategy. This first-ever, community-driven effort seeks to unite a broad, big-tent partnership around a shared vision, coordinated policy priorities, and a long-term investment agenda to serve as a north star for maternal and child health in the United States.

Together, participants will explore a central question: What does this moment call from AMCHP and from all of us?

Terrance will share the “why” behind the strategy, the core elements taking shape, including alignment across systems, centering personal experience, leveraging governmental MCH expertise, and driving measurable improvements through data and health systems, and invite participants to help shape what comes next.

This session is designed to share early thinking, brainstorm together, answer questions, and gather suggestions as we build this work over the next several years. Your perspective will help strengthen and refine this collective vision.

Conference Highlight – Skills-Builder: Supporting Families Affected by Perinatal Substance Use Disorders

AMCHP is excited to partner with the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) and Perigee Fund to highlight perinatal substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health at the AMCHP conference.

This interactive session will highlight innovative perinatal SUD practices across states that are effectively reaching families affected by substance use disorders. Through real-world examples from three organizations, this session will explore how they have initiated and sustained perinatal SUD interventions and provide participants with a realistic and grounded picture of adaptation across implementation phases. Participants will leave with tools, implementation strategies, and an increased awareness of practices in the field that they can apply to their own work.

For the first time, we are opening registration for pre-conference workshops to everyone – even those who are not attending the full AMCHP conference. To reduce participation barriers, this session offers limited sponsorships to cover registration costs. Please contact hteizazu@amchp.org for more information.

Don’t miss out! Register for our skills-builder session now!

Share Your Story at the Voices of AMCHP Kiosk

Now, more than ever, AMCHP needs your voice: your experiences; your advocacy work at the local, state, and national levels; and your impact. For this reason, and in alignment with AMCHP’s commitment to raising awareness of the policies, investments, and critical emerging issues that affect maternal, child, and adolescent health (MCAH) populations, AMCHP is hosting the Voices of AMCHP Kiosk at AMCHP 2026 to collect 2-minute stories from conference attendees; AMCHP members, partners, and collaborators; and AMCHP staff, Board, and Committee members.

We invite you to visit the kiosk to share your story on any of the of the available topics, ranging from your conference experience and this year’s theme (The Power of Connection); your reflections on joy, wellness, and self-care; to stories on the impact of our partnerships, emerging issues and policies, affecting MCAH populations; the importance of family engagement; and the experiences of mothers, children, youth, families, and communities.

Kiosk Schedule & Location:

Saturday, March 7: 2:00 – 6:00 PM | Anacostia Foyer outside the Potomac Ballroom
Sunday, March 8: 10:45 AM – 6:45 PM | Anacostia Foyer outside the Potomac Ballroom
Monday, March 9: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | Exhibit Hall
Tuesday, March 10: Offsite | Hill Day

Your story will help highlight the power of connection, amplify personal experiences, and inspire others across the maternal and child health community. No preparation needed — just bring your voice and your experience.

Bonus! Everyone who shares a story is entered into a raffle to win the following items (winners will be announced at the plenary sessions):

A professional headshot
A Philips Sonicare 4100 Series electric toothbrush
Merch from the AMCHP store

Visit the Voices of AMCHP Kiosk page to learn about the times it’ll be open and swing by at any time. Please note that you may also schedule a time with us in advance to guarantee your spot.

Download the Mobile App

Person holding phone showing AMCHP 2026 logo

Download the Eventscribe app to access AMCHP 2026 from your mobile. Options to download the app include:

Apple iOS Devices – install the free Apple iOS App.
Android Devices – install the free Google Play App.

Install the free Eventscribe app, open it, and search for “AMCHP 2026.” You will be prompted to log in with your username and password (your access key). Our conference will not provide printed schedules, so please ensure that you download the app before arriving so that you can easily access the schedule.

If you have any questions or did not receive your AMCHP 2026 access key, please email us at amchpreg@conferencemanagers.com.

Shop Unique Handcrafted Items at the AMCHP Shop

New this year! AMCHP has partnered with Sophisticate Supply Co. to bring an on-site shop to the AMCHP 2026 Local Marketplace.

The AMCHP shop will offer handcrafted premium leather products, tumblers, and water bottles. And the best part of all? You’ll get to personalize some of these items!

Make sure to stop by the shop, located at the Potomac/Anacostia Ballrooms Foyer, on Saturday, March 7, from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, or on Sunday, March 8, from 8:00 – 5:00 PM ET.

Help Shape AMCHP’s Future and Win Big

AMCHP is excited to announce a special opportunity at this year’s conference: AMCHP is launching a brief survey to hear directly from you about how we can strengthen and improve our member services and offerings.

Whether you’re a long-time member, a new partner, or just getting to know AMCHP, your perspective is important to us.

What’s involved?

A quick survey (5–10 minutes max!).
Open to all conference attendees: members and non-members alike.
Your feedback will directly inform how AMCHP evolves to better serve the field.

There’s a raffle!

Everyone who completes the survey will be entered for a chance to win one of two exciting prizes:

Grand Prize: Complimentary registration to AMCHP 2027 (a value of up to $1,100!).
Second Prize: Complimentary admission to a skills-building session of your choice at AMCHP 2027 (a $75 value).

How to participate:

Stop by the AMCHP Exhibit Booth to take the survey or scan the survey link from the rotating slides in the plenary room.
Once you’ve completed the survey, simply take a screenshot of the confirmation page and show it to the AMCHP staff at the booth in the exhibit hall to finalize your raffle entry.

That’s it! A few minutes of your time could help shape the future of AMCHP and land you at AMCHP 2027 on us. Go ahead and add a visit to our exhibit booth to your conference schedule. We can’t wait to hear your ideas and build what’s next, together!

Plan Your Trip to DC

While you may already be familiar with some of DC’s iconic monuments and museums, the city also offers many other unique ways to explore and experience its rich history, gastronomy, and culture.

In these blogs, AMCHP staff and Conference Planning Committee members share a list of hidden gems and lesser-known activities; events in the city during the conference; a list of books bringing DC’s rich history, communities, and culture to life; and how you can get to AMCHP 2026 using DC’s Metro.

Partner Spotlight

As we get closer to our 2026 AMCHP Annual Conference and continue exploring what you can expect as part of our conference’s Indigenous Experience, we connected with two of our partners for a spotlight on partnerships in maternal and child health: the National Indian Health Board’s Tribal Youth Advisory Council, and Dana Yarbrough, Virginia’s Title V Family Delegate and Director of the Family to Family Health Center, funded by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA)’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB).

In these interviews, we dive into their work, what this year’s conference theme (The Power of Connection) means to them, the lessons learned in recent years, and the opportunities as they look ahead and expand their impact.

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 Passes Funding for MCH Programs

On February 3, Congress passed H.R. 7148, the funding package that includes FY26 funding for maternal and child health programs within the Labor, Health & Human Services, and Related Agencies (LHHS) portion of the bill. This comes after a short partial government shutdown caused by disagreements over Homeland Security funding.

Read our full Policy Alert to learn more.

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.

Due to the AMCHP Annual Conference, we will not have a Town Hall in March. Please register to join us for our next edition on April 9, from 2-3 PM ET at this registration link.

Opportunities & Funding

Call for Applications Open: 2026 Training Course in MCH Epidemiology

Applications are now open for the 2026 Training Course in Maternal & Child Health Epidemiology. This year’s intensive, in-person program is designed for professionals with intermediate to advanced epidemiologic skills. The course will take place June 22–26, in San Antonio, Texas.

This national training is offered by CityMatCH, in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is designed to strengthen analytic capacity among state and local MCH epidemiologists

Application deadline: March 8, 11:59 PM PT

Learn more and apply online: 2026 Training Course in MCH Epidemiology

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!

Attending AMCHP 2026? Schedule a Resume-Review Appointment with Randstad

AMCHP has partnered with Randstad to offer resume-review sessions for our AMCHP 2026 conference attendees!

Career specialists from Randstad will be on-site at the conference on Saturday (drop-in and appointment sessions) and Monday (appointment sessions) to review your resume and provide advice for advancing your job search. This service is available to all attendees free of charge.

Don’t miss out! Schedule your appointment now.

Publications & Resources

From Strep to RHD: A Mother’s Story and a Community’s Fight

Group A strep might sound like a simple sore throat—but for many children and families in American Samoa, it can have life-threatening consequences. MotherToBaby’s recent podcast episode sits down with Dr. Anaise Uso, a public health leader and mother, who shares both her professional and deeply personal experiences with strep infections, rheumatic fever, and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

Together, they explore:

What Group A Strep is, and the common signs of strep throat and skin infections.
How untreated infections can progress into rheumatic fever and, ultimately, rheumatic heart disease.
The unique challenges in American Samoa, where children are three times more likely to be affected than in neighboring Pacific Islands.
The role of screening, prevention, and treatment programs, including antibiotics and regular monitoring.
A personal story of Dr. Uso’s son, who was diagnosed with RHD at age three, and how their family manages his care.
How partnerships with CDC, AMCHP, and MotherToBaby are helping build resources, raise awareness, and strengthen prevention efforts.

This episode highlights why early detection, treatment, and community awareness are critical—not only to protect children’s immediate health, but also to prevent lifelong complications.

 Resources mentioned in this episode: