FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP), a national resource, partner, and advocate for state public health leaders who work and support state maternal and child health (MCH) programs, and others working to improve the health of women, children, youth, families, and communities, today announced that Belinda Pettiford has been named as President of its Board of Directors. Pettiford succeeds Dr. Manda Hall, who became Past-President after serving as President of the board for the past year.

“I feel very privileged to take on this role to continue strengthening AMCHP’s position as a leader in maternal and child health in our country,” said Pettiford. “I look forward to leveraging my background and experience in maternal and child health, my focus on addressing equity and the challenges of communities of color, and my involvement with national boards and strategic planning.”

Pettiford, who has worked for over 30 years in public health, serves as Chief of the Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. In this capacity, she oversees the state’s maternal health, family planning, preconception health, teen pregnancy prevention, sickle cell, and numerous programs focused on equity in birth outcomes. Pettiford co-chairs the Perinatal Health Committees of the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force (CFTF), serves on the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (SACIMM), and is a board member with the National Healthy Start Association.

“Belinda’s long history of leadership for national, state, and local efforts on maternal and child health, coupled with her focus on health equity and her experience serving AMCHP’s board as well as our Workforce Development Committee, makes her an ideal person for this role. I look forward to partnering with Belinda to continue to work towards our mission of protecting and promoting the health and well-being of women, children, youth, families, and communities,” said Terrance E. Moore, Chief Executive Officer of AMCHP.

AMCHP’s Board of Directors is responsible for the association’s property, funds, affairs, and business while helping achieve its mission of protecting and promoting the optimal health of women, children, youth, families, and communities. AMCHP’s board comprises fifteen members, who all hold key positions at the highest levels of maternal and child health and public health nationwide.

View Belinda Pettiford’s online profile.

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The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) is a national resource, partner, and advocate for state public health leaders and others working to improve the health of women, infants, children, youth, parents, families, and communities. AMCHP builds successful programs to serve its members by disseminating best practices; advocating on their behalf in Washington, DC; providing technical assistance; convening leaders to share experiences and ideas; and advising states about involving partners to reach our common goal of healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities. For more information visit www.amchp.org and follow AMCHP on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Please contact Chery Manon Espinal (202-843-9304, cmanonespinal@amchp.org) for questions or media requests.

Download the full press release HERE.