AMCHP Announcements   

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Introducing the Fall 2024 MCH Innovations Database Practices 

Every Spring and Fall, the Innovation Hub hosts its bi-annual review of new, innovative, and impactful policies and practices in the maternal and child health (MCH) space. This past fall, we had EIGHT brand new practices accepted into the MCH Innovations Database! Learn about the accepted practices and the work they’re currently doing below: 

Cutting-Edge Practices 

• The R.U.S.H. Initiative (Rare & Under-Served Health) – The RUSH Initiative works to provide critical health information for every patient with special health care needs to the regional first-responder community in order to provide the best care possible. 
• Grassroots Maternal and Child Health Initiative: Faith-Based Maternal and Child Health Promotion – Through the utilization of partnerships and capacity-building efforts of faith-based organizations, this program works to reduce the adverse outcomes for mothers and children.  
• Preg-Out Program – In Houston, Texas, Preg-Out is working to address the recent spike in congenital syphilis with an opt-out system of rapid-response syphilis screening at any point of pregnancy care. 

Emerging Practices 

• Mothers on the Rise – This program is an individualized coordinated system of care that supports mothers and babies in their transition from the Indiana Women’s Prison Nursery Unit into community.  
• Promises of Parenting Program – The Promises of Parenting Program focuses on improving the health of incarcerated mothers and their children at the Indiana Women’s prison by providing evidence-based parenting education and support. 
• Youth Advisory Board Toolkit – The Youth Advisory Board toolkit was developed at the Indiana Department of Health with the goal of amplifying youth voices when it comes to health needs and empowering youth to educate, change, and lead. 

Promising Practices 

• Becoming a Mom Prenatal Education Program – Based out of Kansas, this is a prenatal education program that aims to improve knowledge, promote healthy behaviors, and enhance birth outcomes for pregnant persons at high risk of adverse outcomes. 
• Healthy Beginnings at Home – This is a transitional housing program that provides support to pregnant women in Marion County, Indiana. By providing stable housing, the program works to increase positive health outcomes for mothers and babies. 

Innovation Hub Open Call for Practices and Policies Focusing on Perinatal Substance Use Disorder  

AMCHP is excited to invite organizations to submit their practices or policies on perinatal substance use disorder (SUD) to the MCH Innovations Database, a searchable repository of “what’s working” in the field that includes practices and policies that are positively impacting MCH populations.  This special call is part of AMCHP’s new Perinatal SUD Implementation & Policy Hub, a two-year initiative aimed at improving outcomes for families affected by perinatal SUD with funding from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts and the Perigee Fund.  

During this special review, AMCHP has re-opened the MCH Innovations Database submission process to accept perinatal SUD practices and policies on a rolling basis. If you are interested in sharing your work in the database, please find and complete the appropriate submission form for your policy or practice and email it to evidence@amchp.org, and we will get back to you soon! 

AMCHP invites perinatal SUD-focused practices and policies to consider submission regardless of whether the work has been evaluated by experimental or “traditional” methods. We believe in the power of community- and practice-defined evidence and seek to promote its use in MCH practice to better center those with lived experience. There is more information on community-defined evidence and AMCHP’s beliefs linked under the “How AMCHP Thinks About Evidence” tab.   

If you are interested and would like to learn more, please email evidence@amchp.org and we will be happy to answer any questions and support you through the process.  

Latest MCH Bridges Podcast Episode – Black Trans Joy: Childbirth & Medicine 

Have you listened to the latest episode of MCH Bridges? Episode 22 – Black Trans Joy: Childbirth & Medicine

November was Transgender Awareness Month. Tune in to the latest episode of What The Health?!  a special feature led by AMCHP’s Youth Voice Amplified Committee, presented by MCH Bridges. Guest Host Dorcas A guides us through a powerful conversation with Allyn Cropper and Eve Lovelace-Cropper, a Black trans couple sharing their experiences of navigating the journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.  

In this episode, Allyn reflects on his personal experience of pregnancy and childbirth, sharing the joys, challenges, and complexities of giving birth as a transmasculine man. Eve, his wife, also offers her perspective on their shared journey and her experiences as a transwoman embarking upon parenthood. The couple discusses the support and strategies that helped them navigate the healthcare system and their advice for other trans people interested in starting a family.  

This conversation invites listeners to reflect on the importance of joy, community, and affirming spaces for trans people in the healthcare system. It offers valuable lessons for those in the maternal and child health field, challenging us all to advocate for more inclusive and equitable reproductive care — especially for those who exist at the intersection of gender and racial identities.  

Why tune in to MCH Bridges?  

MCH Bridges is intended to help our listeners create new connections to 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 with lived experience and their families, MCH faculty and students, public health professionals, and others wanting to learn more about supporting MCH populations and equitable systems of care.  

Recent AMCHP Announcements        

• FORE Awards $2.4 Million to Eight Organizations, Including AMCHP, to Ensure Evidence-Based Practices Reach At-Risk Populations   
• MCH Bridges Podcast Episode – Navigating Prenatal Diagnoses: Fostering Equity & Reducing Harm for Parents of Children with Down Syndrome     

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.  

Register to attend AMCHP 2025 in Washington, DC, and subscribe to our Annual Conference Newsletter to be among the first to receive updates and information about this event. 

AMCHP 2025: An In-Person Only Opportunity for Greater Impact in MCH    

The 2025 AMCHP Annual Conference will be an in-person-only event. 

AMCHP is delighted to have offered a hybrid experience for the past two years, and while we will miss you in the virtual space, we cannot wait to see you in person in Washington, DC! 

Why join us at AMCHP 2025? 

• Gain firsthand opportunities to learn about changes occurring in the MCH field. 
• Participate in discussions about ensuring equity in systems and services, building and strengthening partnerships, and practicing effective family and youth engagement. 
• Exchange best practices and resources with other MCH professionals. 
• Participate in workshops, roundtables, and posters featuring a mix of topics and content. 
• Be part of timely-themed live plenary sessions led by association leadership. 
• Participate in discussions and small-group networking in live groups with speakers, AMCHP staff, and fellow attendees. 

Deadline Approaching: Early Bird Registration for AMCHP 2025 is Open Until January 17   

Don’t Miss Out on our Early Bird Rates! 

Early bird registration for the 2025 AMCHP Annual Conference is open through January 17, and you won’t want to miss out on the savings! 

Take advantage of our early bird pricing to attend our much-awaited annual conference. Register by the deadline, and complete your payment later to secure your spot at the best price. 

The Full Schedule is Available on the Conference Platform   

Last month, AMCHP released the full schedule of workshops, skills-building sessions, poster presentations, and roundtables at the 2025 AMCHP Annual Conference. 

Many maternal and child health leaders, researchers, and advocates will gather in person in Washington, DC, to share practices, data, and ideas, building around the conference theme, “Partnering for Impact.” The 57 workshops, 6 skills-building sessions, 145 poster presentations, and roundtables are organized along the following subject matter tracks: 

• Adolescent and Young Adult Health 
• Children and Youth with Complex Health Care Needs and Disabilities 
• Epidemiology, Data, Assessment, and Evaluation 
• Family & Community Engagement & Partnership 
• Health Equity & Disability Justice 
• Housing, Nutrition, and Other Social Determinants of Health 
• Indigeneity and Health 
• Mental Health/Behavioral Health 
• Prenatal to Three Continuum 
• Policy & Advocacy 
• Sexual and Reproductive Health 
• Title V Program Administration 
• Workforce Development and Leadership 
• Youth Engagement & Partnership 

Visit the conference platform to access the full schedule and view sessions by date or by doing a keyword search. All sessions are displayed in Eastern Time. Start creating your list of must-see sessions today! 

Kicking Off AMCHP 2025 with a YOUTH DAY!   

To meaningfully create change, we need the youth at the table. 

AMCHP will soon host its 2025 AMCHP Annual Conference, and to kick things off, the first day of our conference will be a day BY youth, FOR youth! Join us on Saturday, March 15, from 10:30 AM ET to 5:00 PM ET, where we will center authentic youth engagement, uplift youth-adult partnerships, and discuss topics that impact youth, family, and community health. Youth are invited to join us for FREE on this first day. 

This youth day will include an interactive and fun opening ceremony that cultivates connections, free lunch, professional networking opportunities, skills-building sessions, art activities, and a youth-led town hall where young people can lead meaningful discussions and uplift their perspectives. Topics will cover youth mental health, intergenerational approaches to maternal child health, combatting stigma through storytelling, workforce development, and more! This is an incredible opportunity, and it is free for youth attending the AMCHP Conference and for local youth to attend on this first day! 

Visit the AMCHP Conference Youth Day registration page for more information and to register, and download the promotional flyer to help us spread the word!

Support Youth and Young Adults, Family Leaders, Community-Based and Rooted Partners, Indigenous People, Indigenous-Led Organizations, and Representatives of Tribal Governments and Entities to Attend AMCHP 2025 

Our annual conference is fast approaching. While we can’t wait to see you at AMCHP 2025, we also recognize the profound value of having youth and young adult leaders, including students, family leaders, community-based organizations and community-rooted partners, Indigenous people and Indigenous-led organizations, and tribal governments, to attend our conference. 

AMCHP has composed a letter from our President and CEO providing further details about ways to support these individuals’ attendance. We’ve shared a similar letter for the past several years, which has inspired jurisdictions to financially support up to 10 youth and young adult leaders (including students), family leaders, CBOs, community-rooted partners, and tribal government representatives to participate each year. Nearly a quarter of those who received the letter indicated that it helped them build or strengthen relationships with the individuals they sponsored to attend the conference. 

We are hopeful that this letter will have the same or an even more significant impact this year. We also hope that it inspires you and your colleagues to discuss ways to further partner with purpose and support these individuals and groups in your own work. 

Check out our conference registration page for more information. 

Invitation to Support Diverse Leaders at AMCHP 2025  

Are you or your organization seeking an opportunity to support diverse maternal and child health leaders and make a lasting impact in the field? We have what you are looking for! 

AMCHP is delighted to share our Voice for Impact Conference Scholarship, designed to provide financial support to the following individuals involved in your maternal and child health efforts to attend the 2025 AMCHP Annual Conference: 

• Youth and young adult leaders (including students) 
• Family leaders 
• Community-based organizations (CBOs) 
• Community-rooted partners 
• Indigenous people and Indigenous-led organizations, and 
• Tribal Governments 

Your support will help cover all or a portion of their conference expenses, which include conference registration, travel, lodging, and meals. 

View or download our information flyer to learn more about this opportunity, including the process and how AMCHP will acknowledge your contribution. 

AMCHP 2025 Blogs & Interviews  

• Elevating Diverse Leaders: The AMCHP Voice for Impact Scholarship 
• The Indigenous Experience at AMCHP 2025 

AMCHP Information & Resources 

AMCHP Celebrates Birth Defects Awareness Month: Building Stronger Referral Systems Through Collaboration 

AMCHP commemorates Birth Defects Awareness Month this January by celebrating the launch of our new Referral to Service Activities Framework for Birth Defects Surveillance Programs!  

This work is the culmination of a 3-year project with our partners from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (CDC NCBDDD). Our partnership began in early 2022 with AMCHP’s provision of administrative support to NBDPN’s board, committees, and workgroups, as well as cataloging Standard Operating Procedures, initiating strategic planning efforts, and co-leading the 2023 NBDPN Conference. In this time, we also conducted an environmental scan of birth defect surveillance program (BDSP) and Title V program staff and held a series of virtual roundtables to discuss referral to service activities.

Access this resource to download the tools, watch the launch webinar, and read more about the project in our blog post! 

Legislation & Policy   

Explore our Maternal & Child Health Bill Tracker for more information about pending federal legislation to improve maternal health. Also, download AMCHP’s 2024 Federal Policy Agenda, which outlines where we are focusing our advocacy work this year.   

Subscribe to AMCHP’s Legislative Alerts and Policy 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 last AMCHP Policy and Partnerships Town Hall in 2024! You can find the full recordings of past Town Halls on our Government Affairs webpage.      

Town Halls occur on the second Thursday of every month from 2-3 PM ET, including our first edition of the year on February 13. We invite you to register for all future Town Halls using this registration link.      

Opportunities & Funding            

AMCHP Career Center: Connecting Talent with Opportunity

AMCHP lists the top jobs available in our industry. Access the AMCHP Career Center to search and apply for open positions or post your jobs and opportunities! Search for Jobs | Post a Job.     

AMCHP Career Opportunities         

Be part of our team! AMCHP is seeking individuals for the role listed below. AMCHP offers a 100% virtual work/telework environment for all positions. 

• Communications Intern: AMCHP is recruiting a communications intern to join us from February – March 2025 to support our communications efforts to promote the 2025 AMCHP Annual Conference. This is a paid part-time position that requires 15 – 20 hours per week. AMCHP’s internship program is open to currently enrolled students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Individuals who have already graduated may also be eligible. The Communications Intern will report to the Senior Communications Manager and will be an integral part of the Communications team, working on marketing and communications strategies for a reputable non-profit organization in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) field. [Learn more and apply]

CDC Drug-Free Communities Support Program Notice of Funding Opportunity 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program fiscal year 2025 Notice of Funding of Opportunity will be released in late January 2025. DFC program provides grants to community coalitions to reduce local youth substance use by identifying and responding to the drug problems unique to their community and changing local community environmental conditions tied to substance use. More than 750 community coalitions across the country receive up to $125,000 per year to strengthen collaboration among local partners and create an infrastructure that reduces youth substance use. Learn more about this opportunity.  

Partner Events & Webinars  

Perinatal Substance Use Disorders (SUD) 101 Training  

On January 22, join this new complementary introduction to perinatal SUD training hosted by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Support International, and the Colorado Department of Public Health. Learn more about how to recognize and effectively respond to substance use concerns during pregnancy, early parenthood, and with the birthing parent/child dyad. Considerations related to treatment and supporting the parent-child relationship will be discussed. The training is designed for providers, administrators, and public health employees, though all are welcome. Register now.  

Webinar: Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Addiction 

This Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) webinar on Tuesday, January 28 at 2-3 PM ET will celebrate the launch of Sesame Workshop’s new educational course for healthcare and social services providers called Hand in Hand: Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Addiction. With FORE’s support, Sesame Workshop is expanding its Parental Addiction Initiative, which uses interactive resources featuring Sesame Street’s Karli to help children understand parental and caregiver substance use and how it affects them. As part of the project Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street, has partnered with FORE grantees Morgan County Partnership and Denver Health to implement tools that strengthen nurturing connections between adults and children throughout a parent or caregiver’s recovery. 
 
This webinar will feature an overview of the new educational course and a discussion of opportunities for providers to address the impact of opioid use and overdose on children and families. Register now. 

Publications & Resources 

New 2022-2023 NSCH Data on Child and Family Health Measures Is Available Now! 

New child and family health measures from the 2022-2023 combined year National Survey of Children’s Health are available on the Data Research Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DRC) website. With this new data, you can learn how your state is doing on nearly 400 child health measures including National Outcomes Measures, National Performance Measures, and Standardized Measures. Look at data by subgroups such as race/ethnicity, poverty level, medical home, insurance type, adverse childhood experiences, and more. In fact, check out our newest subgroup additions: an expanded measure of children with special health care needs and a measure of child flourishing. This is also the first combined year dataset to display the new measure of school readiness for every state. 

For more information and resources about the NSCH, such as fast facts, a guide to topics and questions, changes across years, survey methodology, survey instruments, and more, please visit the DRC NSCH Overview page. There are also numerous resources available on HRSA MCHB’s NSCH webpage.    

The NSCH is a national survey, funded and directed by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA MCHB), that provides rich data on multiple, intersecting aspects of children’s health and well-being – including physical and mental health, access to and quality of health care, and the child’s family, neighborhood, school, and social context. Request NSCH datasets in SAS, Stata, and SPSS formats with accompanying codebooks on the DRC website.    

The DRC is brought to you by the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI). For more information, take a short video tour or contact the CAHMI-DRC team through the Ask Us a Question page.

Commemorations     

January 2025 

Thyroid Awareness Month 

National Glaucoma Awareness Month 

National Birth Defects Prevention Month 

Cervical Health Awareness Month 

Stalking Awareness Month

Radon Awareness Month

National Blood Donor Month

 

Days to Note:

Maternal Health Awareness Day, January 23

World Leprosy Day, January 26