March 26, 2026

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March 26, 2026

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AMCHP Announcements

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AMCHP Announced 2026 Awards Winners

AMCHP announced the winners of its 2026 AMCHP Annual Awards. The awards recognize maternal and child health (MCH) leaders for their outstanding contributions to the field and were presented at the 2026 AMCHP Annual Conference, held March 7-10 in Washington, DC.

Awardees of the 2026 AMCHP Annual Awards include:

Wendy Elizabeth Barrington– John MacQueen Lecture Award
Annette Mente – Excellence in State MCH Leadership Award
Laura Kavanagh – Vince Hutchins Leadership Award
Eileen Auer Bennett – Merle McPherson Family Leadership Award
Riley Patterson – Ryan Colburn Scholarship Award
Metropolitan Ministries – Community Partnership Award

Awardees for the 2026 Emerging MCH Professional category include:

Courtney Smalt (Region I)
Rebecca Shoaf Kozak (Region II)
Makaila Davis (Region III)
Alice Irby (Region IV)
Mary Ellen Potts (Region V)
Alexandra Simpson (Region VI)
James Olson (Region VII)
Angela Reinarts (Region VIII)
Sophie Silverstone (Region VIII)
Caroline Johnny-Jibas (Region IX)
Maria Ness (Region X)

Awardees for the 2026 Innovation Hub Award category include:

1st Five Health Mental Development Initiative – Best Practice Award
Kids Network Safe Sleep Instructor Certification – Practice Development Award
Ohio Department of Health Youth Homelessness Program – Community Wellness Impact Award

Congratulations to all the winners! View the full press release, and check out our award ceremony video recap.

For more information about this year’s awardees, please visit our webpage.

AMCHP Announced 2026 Board of Directors Election Results

On Wednesday, March 25, AMCHP announced that our membership has elected a new slate of officers to serve on the AMCHP Board of Directors. The election results were presented during the Annual Business Meeting, which took place on Tuesday, March 10, in conjunction with the 2026 AMCHP Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

Re-elections and new appointments to the AMCHP Board include Marcus Johnson-Miller (President-Elect, 2026 – 2027), Katie Eilers (Treasurer, 2026 – 2028), Linda Hampton Starnes (Secretary, 2026 – 2028), Nancy Scotto Rosato (Region II Director, 2026 – 2029), Malerie Hartsell (Interim Region IV Director, 2026 – 2027), Elizabeth Taylor-Schiro/Biidabinikwe (Region V Director, 2026 – 2029), Amy Zapata (Interim Region VI Director, 2026 – 2028), and Martha Smith (Region VII Director, 2026 – 2029). With these changes, the AMCHP Board of Directors now comprises seventeen members.

“Congratulations to these officers on their appointments to serve on the AMCHP Board of Directors,” said Jacqueline Johnson, President of the AMCHP Board. “As I reflect on my personal and professional journey, I can’t help but feel overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity to share this space with such remarkable leaders so that we can serve and speak for those who don’t have a voice or the opportunity to share it. I am excited for our opportunity not only to honor our predecessors in these roles, but also to bring something AMCHP and its membership have not experienced before.”

Read the full news release.

Applications for AMCHP’s MCH Policy I2A Learning Collaborative Open Through April 30

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

Thank you to the more than 1,000 maternal and child health (MCH) leaders and thinkers who joined us in Washington, DC, from March 7-10 for our 2026 AMCHP Annual Conference!

Subscribe to our Annual Conference Newsletter to be among the first to receive updates and information about our 2027 conference in Washington, DC.

Save the Date for AMCHP 2027

Save the date to attend the 2027 AMCHP Annual Conference from March 6 – 9, 2027, in Washington, DC. Interested in getting all the details once they become available? Subscribe to our conference newsletter so you don’t miss out!

AMCHP 2025 Post-Conference Evaluation Survey

If you attended AMCHP 2026, please check your inbox for a direct email containing a post-conference evaluation link from Qualtrics. This evaluation is extremely important for AMCHP to ensure your feedback is considered when planning the next conference experience.

Please fill out the survey to the best of your ability, as your valuable input will help our conference planning committee serve you better.

Did you not receive the survey in your inbox?

Please check your spam or junk folder. If you still don’t see it, please email us at epieval@amchp.org to request a copy of the evaluation link.

Exclusive AMCHP Merch Selling Out Fast!

Ran out of space in your luggage and missed the on-site shops at AMCHP 2026?

The official AMCHP 2026 merch store is still open online, featuring a selection of limited-edition items designed exclusively for this year’s conference, as well as AMCHP-branded items to rep your favorite membership organization.

Whether you want a practical keepsake to remember your impactful conference experience or a conversation starter at your next meet-up, we’ve got you covered!

Stock is limited, so grab your favorite items as soon as possible. Buy from the store now!

Revisit AMCHP 2026

Registered participants of AMCHP 2026 will have access to all conference content and presentations for one year. Simply log in to the conference app or platform using your access key to continue enjoying inspiring talks from this year’s outstanding speakers and presenters at your convenience.

Additionally, you can visit our conference page to review some significant milestones from AMCHP 2026.

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.

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 April 9, from 2-3 PM ET at this registration link.

Opportunities & Funding

New AMCHP Opportunity: Medicaid Transformation & Maternal and Child Health Systems Consultant

AMCHP seeks a consultant with applied Medicaid expertise to support our MCH portfolio during a time of rapid Medicaid transformation. This consultant will:

Provide applied Medicaid policy analysis and strategic insights within the organization and among the organization’s partners.
Strengthen partnerships between state health agency staff responsible for administering MCH programs (including those funded through the Title V MCH Services Block Grant) and state Medicaid agencies.
Build AMCHP’s internal capacity and shared knowledge of Medicaid financing, transformation strategies, and cross-agency collaboration.

Learn more and apply.

Medicaid Food Security Partners Program: Request for Proposals

Share Our Strength and HealthBegins are launching the third cohort of grant funding for the Medicaid Food Security Partners Program. Share Our Strength will be funding four state-based organizations or coalitions to pursue the creation or implementation of state Medicaid regulatory or administrative changes that promote promising food and nutrition security policy initiative(s), with a special focus on strategies that promote SNAP and WIC enrollment among children and families.

Grantees will receive $100,000 for an 18-month period as well as full cohort learning opportunities and individualized technical assistance. Please note: this funding is not intended for direct service/direct food provision or benefit application assistance. Preference will be given to candidates with the necessary relationships, strategy, and positioning to reasonably achieve success.

The Medicaid Food Security Partners Program is an initiative of the National Medicaid Food Security Network.

Application Deadline: April 17 at 11:59 PM ET/8:59 PM PT.

Read the full RFP and submit your application.

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!

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: