September 24, 2026

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September 24, 2026

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AMCHP Announcements

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Deadline Approaching: Call for Proposals for AMCHP 2027 Closes on September 30

Don’t miss the deadline! The Call for Proposals for the 2027 AMCHP Annual Conference (AMCHP 2027) is open until September 30. AMCHP 2027, one of the largest gatherings of maternal and child health leaders and thinkers in the U.S., will take place in person in Washington, DC, from March 6 – 9, 2027.

Each year, the AMCHP conference attracts over 1,000 participants from across the country. For AMCHP 2027, presenters will have the opportunity to showcase their work on a prominent stage through various session formats, including Workshops, Lightning Talks, Student and Early Career Professional Grand Rounds, and Discussions. These sessions will focus on the latest developments in maternal and child health, aligned with our 2027 theme: “Recharge, Reimagine, and Rise.”

New resource alert! Interested in submitting a proposal for the “Epidemiology, Technology, & Evidence for the Future of MCH” track? Download our Epidemiology Tip Sheet – a guide providing additional information on how to submit an abstract focused on this track.

For more information, please visit the call for proposals website and watch the recording of our informational webinar to learn about the submission process.

ICYMI, New MCH Bridges Podcast Episode – Episode 23: Native Youth Voices on Domestic Violence Prevention

Our latest MCH Bridges episode, developed in partnership with the National Indian Health Board’s (NIHB) Tribal Youth Advisory Council, centers the voices of Native youth leading domestic violence prevention work in their communities. This episode shares an overview of the realities of domestic violence in Native communities, how young people are stepping up to support one another and their communities, and the challenges that keep young people from getting the resources and support they need.

Tune in now to listen and learn from guest speakers Taralynn Chesley (Curyung & Supiaq) and Joelnell Momberg (Blackfeet) from NIHB’s Tribal Youth Advisory Council, who share their experiences and insights on how young people are building safer, stronger communities and the importance of creating supportive, informed communities.

Content warning: This episode discusses domestic violence and may be emotionally difficult for some listeners. We encourage listeners to seek additional resources to learn more about supporting survivors and promoting safety. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic, dating, or sexual violence, contact the StrongHearts Native Helpline by calling or texting 1-844-762-8483 (1-844-7NATIVE) or visiting strongheartshelpline.org. StrongHearts is a free, confidential, anonymous, and culturally grounded advocacy service for Native American and Alaska Native survivors, as well as their family members and friends. Advocates are knowledgeable about Native cultures, tribal sovereignty, and community-specific resources and are available 24/7. You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7223 (800-799-SAFE), text “START” to 88788, or visit thehotline.org.

Why tune in to MCH Bridges?

MCH Bridges is intended to help our listeners create new connections to maternal and child health (MCH) leaders, organizations, and ideas. We aim to inspire and guide listeners towards actions that will improve the systems that impact MCH populations. 

Who should listen to MCH Bridges?

MCH Bridges is designed for Title V MCH & CYSHCN leaders, state and jurisdictional health department staff, individuals and families with experience navigating maternal and child health systems, MCH faculty and students, public health professionals, and others wanting to learn more about supporting MCH populations.

AMCHP Events & Webinars

Webinar Approaching: Building Meaningful Partnerships with People Impacted by Perinatal Substance Use

How can we meaningfully engage and support people impacted by perinatal substance use as partners, collaborators, and professionals? Join AMCHP on Wednesday, September 30, from 1 – 2:30 PM ET, for an interactive webinar exploring important considerations for working and collaborating with people impacted by perinatal substance use. Presenters will share information and strategies for engaging and supporting people in these roles, drawing on their own personal and professional experiences.

The session will begin with lightning presentations from all four presenters, followed by active, topic-focused breakout rooms led by each presenter. Given the sensitive nature of the topics discussed, this webinar will NOT be recorded. Attendees should come prepared to actively engage with the presenters and one another.

By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

Describe key considerations for identifying and engaging people impacted by perinatal substance use as partners, collaborators, and professionals.
Identify at least two approaches for fostering meaningful interpersonal support in professional settings for people impacted by perinatal substance use.
Explain at least two organizational processes or policies that foster supportive, sustainable workforce integration of people impacted by perinatal substance use.

Featured Speakers

Meghann Perry, CARC RCPF — Educator and Thought Leader, Meghann Perry Group
Lucy Battles, CADC-R, RCP-F — UNC Horizons, Lead Justice-Involved Peer Navigator & Evaluation Assistant; MoMMAs Voices, Patient Family Partner
Cheri Bryer, CLC, CRSW, CHW — Perinatal /Postpartum Doula, Senior Perinatal Peer Support Educator/Coordinator NHPQC, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, N.H.
Dora Dantzler-Wright, BS, CADC, NCRS, CPRS, RCT — Founder, CEO & Executive Director, Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition

Space is limited, so register now! Registration will close once capacity is reached. Because this is an interactive, live-only session, please register only if you plan to attend.

ICYMI – Webinar Recording: Aligning Early Childhood Systems Through Shared Outcome Measures to Support Nurturing Family Environments

This webinar highlights how shared outcome measures can drive early childhood collaborations that support nurturing family environments for young children and their families. Specifically, the webinar:

Explored how early childhood-related Title V National Outcome Measures can serve as a framework to anchor cross-program collaboration across Title V, Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV), Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS), Infant Toddler Court Programs (ITCP), and Transforming Pediatrics for Early Childhood (TPEC) programs.
Highlighted how teams in Massachusetts, Ohio, and South Dakota are operationalizing this idea of aligning measures to support nurturing family environments.

View the webinar recording and slides.

AMCHP Information & Resources

Recent Information & Resources:

AMCHP’s Revamped Roadmap for Early Childhood Collaboration – Aligning Early Childhood Systems: Ten Recommendations and a Roadmap for Action.

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 October 8, from 2-3 PM ET at this registration link.

Opportunities & Funding

Deadline Extended! Apply for the 2027 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health MCH Program Evaluation Practicum by September 25

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) Program Evaluation Practicum is a unique learning and experiential opportunity for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) public health programs and students. The Practicum offers state, tribal, local, and other health organization MCH programs the chance to:

Receive a comprehensive, ready‑to‑use evaluation plan tailored to your MCH program, developed by students with input from your team and instructors.
Build your team’s evaluation skills through participation in lessons.
Strengthen your program’s ability to demonstrate impact and areas for growth.

HSPH will offer this Winter Session course in January 2027. Staff from selected programs and students will participate in a three-day virtual program evaluation training at the host site (i.e., your state/local/tribal health department or program) (January 6—8, 2027) followed by a week where students meet with health department or organization staff to learn details of the program to be evaluated and begin development of the evaluation plan (January 11—15, 2027).

Learn more and email the completed proposal form to Olivia Hiller (osmith@hsph.hardvard.edu) by September 25.

Invitation for Home Visiting Model Developers to Express Interest in Having Their Model Reviewed by HomVEE and Reported on the HomVEE Website

The Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) review invites developers of early childhood home visiting models to express interest in having their model reviewed and reported on the HomVEE website. The deadline for expressing interest is October 15, 2026.

HomVEE conducts a thorough and transparent review of the home visiting research literature and provides an assessment of the evidence of effectiveness for early childhood home visiting models that serve families with pregnant women and families with children from birth through age 5. Information about reviewed models and their evidence of effectiveness is published on the HomVEE website. The website helps Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program awardees find and choose home visiting models they can use with MIECHV funding. The MIECHV Program, which is run by the Health Resources and Services Administration in partnership with the Administration for Children and Families, provides funding for voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services. Having your model reviewed by HomVEE could make it eligible for use with MIECHV funds if HomVEE determines that it meets the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) criteria for an evidence-based early childhood home visiting model (“HHS criteria”).

Interested in this opportunity? Learn about the eligibility criteria and the process for expressing interest.

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 for 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

Happening Today! Relias Webinar: Preparing Every Rural Hospital for Obstetrical Emergencies

As maternity care deserts continue to expand and more rural hospitals close labor and delivery units, emergency departments are increasingly called upon to stabilize pregnant and postpartum patients experiencing life-threatening complications. At the same time, CMS has introduced new Conditions of Participation that require hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) with emergency services to maintain evidence-based obstetrical emergency protocols and provide ongoing staff training.

Join Relias today, Thursday, September 24, at 2:00 PM ET for an educational webinar exploring what these new requirements mean for rural healthcare organizations. During the webinar, participants will review the CMS expectations, discuss practical steps to strengthen emergency readiness, and Relias will share insights from research on current maternal health practices and training gaps. Whether your organization provides obstetrical services or not, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to prepare your teams, support compliance efforts, and improve care for obstetrical emergencies.

Learning objectives:

Explain the CMS obstetrical emergency readiness requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals.
Identify common preparedness gaps that can impact emergency response and survey readiness.
Describe strategies to strengthen obstetrical emergency protocols, workforce education, and competency management.
Apply best practices to improve readiness for maternal emergencies in rural healthcare settings.

Learn more and register.