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June 2, 2022

COVID-19 Resources  

CDC Strengthened Recommendations and Expanded Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots 

On May 19, CDC issued a statement recommending that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. It informed that since the pandemic began, more than 4.8 million children ages 5 through 11 had been diagnosed with COVID-19, 15,000 had been hospitalized and, tragically, over 180 had died. As cases increase across the country, a booster dose will safely help restore and enhance protection against severe disease. 

In addition, CDC strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first.  Over the past month, the country saw steady increases in cases, with a steep and substantial increase in hospitalizations for older Americans. While older Americans have the highest coverage of any age group of first booster doses, most older Americans received their last dose (either their primary series or their first booster dose) many months ago, leaving many who are vulnerable without the protection they may need to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death. 

Read the full statement at this link. 

AMCHP COVID-19 Resources and Vaccination Pages  

AMCHP is committed to working alongside our federal agency and organizational partners to gather available information, resources, and guidance specific to our MCH population during the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources are on our website for your convenience and are updated regularly as untapped resources become available. Find out more about vaccinating MCH populations to stay up to date on well care during the pandemic here. 

 

AMCHP Announcements  

Never miss our updates! Sign up for our newsletters here, and follow us on Twitter (@DC_AMCHP), LinkedIn (Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs), Facebook (AMCHPofficial), and Instagram (@DC_AMCHP).  

AMCHP Board President Belinda Pettiford Testifies Before House Appropriations Subcommittee on Title V Appropriations in Fiscal Year 2023

On Thursday, May 26,  Belinda D. Pettiford, MPH, President of the Board of Directors of AMCHP, testified before the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee as part of their Fiscal Year 2023 Public Witness Day. In her testimony, Ms. Pettiford urged the Subcommittee to fund the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant at $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2023. Watch her testimony:

Learn more about Ms. Pettiford’s appearance before the Subcommittee in this press release and read her full testimony.

Statement by AMCHP CEO Terrance E. Moore on the Shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas

On May 24, Terrance E. Moore, Chief Executive Officer of AMCHP, issued the following statement in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas:

“Violence in any instance is a strike against humanity. As we have long known, gun violence is a public health crisis that must be urgently addressed. As AMCHP members and partners gather this week to advance the health and wellness of mothers, children, families, and communities, our hearts go out to the people of Uvalde, Texas. We are shocked and deeply saddened by this news – we know these feelings are rippling through the country. As a maternal and child health community, we are collectively grieving this tragedy. Tonight and throughout this week, let’s hold space to grieve individually, together, and as a community.”

New Pulse Newsletter Issue: MCH Workforce Mental Health and Burnout

The latest issue of our Pulse newsletter is live on our website!

This issue of Pulse, titled “MCH Workforce Mental Health and Burnout,” was launched in conjunction with Mental Health Month, observed in May, and offered perspectives from the field and strategies to support workforce wellness and resilience.

Articles:

Do you want to receive our Pulse newsletter directly to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list at this link!

New Dates Available! Join AMCHP CEO Terrance E. Moore for a Virtual Conversation over Coffee

Members of AMCHP, please join our CEO, Terrance E. Moore, for a casual and virtual conversation over coffee. Learn more about him and his vision and discuss the challenges you have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and input and best practices on what AMCHP can do to redouble our support to our members as you continue to navigate workforce mental health burnout in your jurisdictions.

We would love for you to join one of the open sessions below! All sessions will be held on Zoom and will be 45 minutes long. 

Session registration is capped at thirty, so register today! Follow AMCHP’s CEO on Twitter at @AMCHP_CEO. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@amchp.org. 

New MCH Bridges Podcast Episode 

Rest is Infinite: Shifting Our Mindsets on Rest & Productivity 

Our newest MCH Bridges episode is now live! Episode 5 – “Rest is Infinite: Shifting Our Mindsets on Rest & Productivity.” 

In this episode, we tackle the topic of redefining rest and productivity with Marissa McKool, Career and Life Coach. Marissa shares her personal wake up call on the brink of burnout, explores why we are sometimes hesitant to take time off, discusses how supervisors and managers can be more supportive of staff, the intersection of oppressive systems and thoughts on rest, and shares ideas and tips for reshaping our mindset throughout the conversation. 

Share with your peers and listen to this and other episodes on www.mchbridges.org, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Overcast. 

 Why tune in to MCH Bridges? 

MCH Bridges is designed 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.  

 We’d like to hear from you! Complete this short survey to share input and let us know who or what you’d like to hear about on future episodes. If you have any questions or suggestions about the podcast, please contact Maura Leahy (mleahy@amchp.org).  

AMCHP Announced Family LEAD Committee Discussion with Family Leaders & Representatives

AMCHP is currently working on our strategic plan for 2022 – 2027. As part of the discovery phase of the process, our Family LEAD Committee is hosting a call for family leaders and representatives to hear directly from families on experiences, challenges, and opportunities at the local level. 

Join us for an important and constructive conversation, on Thursday, June 30, from 3 – 4 PM EDT. Register here by COB Friday, June 24.

We ask that you forward this invitation to your contacts, listservs, and community organizations so we can reach as many families as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Crawford (mcrawford@amchp.org). 

Recent AMCHP Announcements 

 

AMCHP Annual Conference  

Conference Recap   

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference! 

  • We had over 1,200 registered participants, with first-time attendees making up 41% of those individuals  
  • This year’s conference represented 49 states, one jurisdiction, and 4 territories   
  • During the Sharing Your Why plenary session, we created a word cloud of why YOU continue to do such important work 

  • We heard from AMAZING speakers who took us into what we can learn from the past, how it shapes the reasons for our actions in the present, and why this understanding is vital for us to create a better future together. In case you missed these sessions, here are some highlights from their presentation:

Post-Conference Reminders  

You still have access to ALL conference content!  

Want to revisit your favorite session or engage with the content you might have missed live? For a full year, all registered participants will have access to all of the on-demand content, live plenary sessions, workshops, and more! Visit the conference website, log in with your access code, and continue to be inspired by all of the wonderful speakers and participants this year on your own time.  

Annual Post-Conference Evaluation Survey 

Keep an eye out for an email with a survey link to evaluate the conference! This survey is extremely important for AMCHP to continue putting your voice first when crafting the next conference experience. Help our conference planning committee serve you better by filling out the survey to the best of your ability!  

The survey will be sent directly from SurveyMonkey – please check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see it in your inbox. For any questions, feel free to contact Courtney Salley (csalley@amchp.org). 

Save the Date for AMCHP 2023!

Are you feeling revitalized by the powerful content of this year’s conference? SAVE THE DATE for next year’s in-person conference that will take place May 7 – 9, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. We are so excited to be able to offer an in-person experience after two years of wonderful, virtual conferences!  

Annual Conference Approved for Continuing Education   

As of May 4, 2022, the AMCHP 2022 Annual Conference meets Accreditation and CDC’S Quality Training Standards. Please click this link for more information. 

 

AMCHP Events & Webinars  

New Recordings Available!  

 Join Us for Another Global Health Webinar

Join us on Wednesday, June 8, at 3:00 PM EDT for a Global Health Webinar, Amplifying Birthworker Models of Care: Focusing on the Growing Maternal Mortality Crisis. In this webinar, speakers will explore global and local birthworker models of care and share ways we can adapt these models within our local contexts. Register for this webinar here! 

AMCHP Innovation Hub 

Join AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Committee! 

Are you interested in building evidence and innovation? Do you want to serve as a catalyst for developing and implementing equitable practices and policies? Join AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Committee! 

AMCHP is accepting applications for interested individuals to join the committee as part of the 2021-2022 committee year. As a committee member, you will be part of the team working to advance the field of maternal and child health (MCH) through evidence and innovation. Specifically, committee members guide AMCHP’s efforts to identify, review, amplify, and support the replication of innovative and effective MCH approaches. These approaches center on health equity and improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities across the nation by providing evidence- and implementation-centered technical assistance, resources, and support.

Click here for more information, and fill out this form to join AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Committee. 

AMCHP Mental Health Corner  

Mental health is an important component of well-being for MCH populations. To recognize its importance, we will use this space to highlight resources for MCH professionals to support their own mental health, as well as the mental health of those they serve. Read more about AMCHP’s organizational work on mental health and substance use here.  

This month, we have launched a social media campaign celebrating Pride Month and calling attention to the unique context around mental health concerns that LGBTQIA2S+ folks face. Keep up with the hashtag #AMCHPMentalHealth on Twitter to learn more about the prevalence of LGBTQ+ identities, how discrimination impacts mental health for LGBTQ+ individuals and helpful resources. 

Interested in receiving more information on what’s happening related to mental health/substance use and MCH? Sign-up for the PRISM Digest, our monthly mental health/substance use newsletter, by emailing jsimon@amchp.org and check out the #AMCHPMentalHealth hashtag on Twitter. Have questions or want to learn more? Contact the mental health team at mentalhealth@amchp.org. 

New Post Alert! #ScreenToInterveneForAYAs Blog Highlights Results from the CDC’s Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) 

This latest blog post highlights recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, which sought to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent health. Check out the post to learn more about how protective factors have once again been shown to serve as a buffer against the mental health impacts of trauma and for ideas on how Title V MCH programs can help bolster protective factors for adolescents in their communities. Read the post here.  If you would like to receive an e-mail notification when a new blog post is available for viewing, please sign up here.

AMCHP National Policy Calls  

Thanks to those of you who joined us at the May AMCHP Policy and Partnerships Town Hall! Watch the recording: 

The next call in this series is on June 9, from 2 – 3 PM EDT. Please use this link to register. 

Note that this Town Hall series is a continuation of the AMCHP MCH COVID-19 Town Halls under a new name and with a wider scope of the content. 

Legislation & Policy  

Explore our Maternal Health Bill Tracker for more information about pending federal legislation to improve maternal health.  

AMCHP Leads National Coalitions in Urging Congress to Fund Federal Maternal Health Programs, Including Title V, in Fiscal Year 2023 

As part of our annual appropriations work, AMCHP has led national coalitions on seven letters to the leadership of House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor – Health and Human Services urging funding for maternal health programs in Fiscal Year 2023. The appropriations letters, signed by Members of Congress, national organizations, and/or academic institutions, demonstrate the breadth of support for and the impact of federal-funded maternal health programs. To highlight, AMCHP was joined by 108 national organizations and academic institutions in a letter requesting Congress fund the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant at $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2023. To learn more about this and other AMCHP-led appropriations letters, see the AMCHP Government Affairs webpage. 

House Committees Hold Hearings on the Infant Formula Shortage 

In response to the infant formula shortage, committees within the House of Representatives has held three hearings to better understand the cause of the shortage and identify potential solutions. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on May 25 with officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and infant formula suppliers. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies also held two hearings on May 25, the former with FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and the latter with various stakeholders. These three hearings follow a series of Executive Actions from the White House and two bills passed in the House (H.R.7790, H.R.7791) addressing the shortage.   

To learn more about safe formula practices, check out this fact sheet from the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

 

Opportunities & Funding   

AMCHP Career Center: Connecting Talent with Opportunity  

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

Maternal and Child Health Journal Supplement on Public Health Approaches to Perinatal Substance Use

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) are pleased to announce a forthcoming supplement on “Public Health Approaches to Perinatal Substance Use,” to be published by the Maternal and Child Health Journal. This supplement, sponsored by AMCHP and ASTHO, will feature articles that address policies and programs dedicated to expanding access to mental health and substance use care during the perinatal period. Please read our Call for Papers to learn more. 

MCH researchers, state and local public health professionals, healthcare providers, policymakers, advocates at community-based organizations, and other allied professionals are encouraged to submit manuscripts. In June and July, we are hosting a writing workshop led by Timothy Dye, Editor-in-Chief of the Maternal and Child Health Journal, to support authors. Register to attend one or both writing workshops here. The sessions are on June 17 and July 22, from 1 – 3 PM EDT. 

If you are interested in submitting to the supplement, reviewing manuscript submissions, or have general questions about the supplement, please email Amani Echols (aechols@amchp.org).

 

Partner Events/Webinars 

Registration Now Open for the 2022 Conference on Adolescent Health 

Registration for the hybrid 2022 Conference on Adolescent Health is now open!  Join a multi-disciplinary audience of over 450 health professionals from across the country for two days of engaging content around Adolescent Health. Session topics include culturally competent sex education, responding to the mental health needs of youth during a continued pandemic, the impacts of racism on adolescent health, and more. The in-person portion of the Conference will be held in Ypsilanti, Michigan, at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest.  

Early Bird rates will close on Friday, July 1, and registration closes on Friday, July 29. Register now!  

 

Publication & Resources  

HHS Baby Formula Shortage Social Media Toolkit

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) created a social media toolkit that provides graphics and copy for posts in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Creole, offering resources to find infant formula, as well as guidance and best practices when in need of baby formula.

Spread the word to communities affected by the infant formula shortage! Use this link to access the social media toolkit.

Guidance to parents and families in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Creole is available at HHS.gov/formula.

ZERO TO THREE – State of Babies Yearbook: 2022 

ZERO TO THREE has just released their State of Babies Yearbook: 2022, a resource meant to close the gap between science and policy in the United States. The resource includes a wealth of data and some key findings that among others, include: 

  • There is tremendous variation across states in how and to what extent babies are prioritized. 
  • National and state data on maternal health, birth outcomes, material hardship, and barriers to quality childcare suggest that babies might be left behind. 

And many other significant findings for MCH professionals! Check out their page HERE. 

Now available! Recorded sessions from the youth-led Region VIII AYAH Summit: Uplifting Youth Adult Partnerships for Health Justice 

This virtual summit, hosted by the Region 8 Federal Interagency Adolescent and Young Adult Workgroup, was designed by AYA leaders to help professionals working with young people in regional states and Tribes (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming) understand the importance of authentic youth engagement in all aspects of work. Participants were exposed to tools and skills development from young adult leaders on ways to partner authentically. Session topics include connectedness, youth-adult partnerships, respectful and inclusive LGBTQ+ engagement, reproductive health and justice, environmental justice, and the use of photovoice to bring awareness to important issues affecting young people now and in the future. 

Sessions: 

Recent Publications & Resources 

Commemorations  

June 2022 

Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
Cataract Awareness Month
Men’s Health Month
Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
National Aphasia Awareness Month
National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month
National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
National Scleroderma Awareness Month
PTSD Awareness Month
Scoliosis Awareness Month 

Weeks to Note:
Men’s Health Week; June 13 – 19
Helen Keller Def-Blind Awareness Week; June 21 – 27 

Days to Note:
National Cancer Survivors Day; June 6
World Brain Tumor Day; June 8
Family Health and Fitness Day; June 11
World Blood Donor Day; June 14
Autistic Pride Day; June 18
World Sickle Cell Day; June 19
World Vitiligo Day; June 25
National HIV Testing Day; June 27