MCH Emergency Preparedness & Response
Leadership Academy
Meeting the needs of MCH populations during all phases of emergency management requires individual champions working within and alongside jurisdictional health departments. AMCHP is committed to investing in these individuals’ leadership trajectories and positioning them to influence critical decision making within Emergency Operations Centers and other entities through the MCH EPR Leadership Academy. The MCH EPR Leadership Academy will run from February through August 2025.
Approach and Framework
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With the goal of increasing national resilience, academy session topics will be centered at the intersection of leadership development, expert knowledge of maternal and child health (MCH) emergency preparedness and response (EPR) considerations, and skills associated with challenging and changing systems. MCH EPR Expertise (Knowledge): Our intention is to augment participants’ expertise at the intersection of MCH and EPR through: (a) basic comprehension of emergency management practice and protocol, (b) focusing on MCH (sub)population needs and considerations throughout the emergency management cycle, and (c) understanding the data/evidence, communication, programmatic, and policy levers that influence MCH outcomes during emergencies. Leadership Development (Attributes): Our intention is to strengthen participants’ ability to influence relevant policies and practices through a deeper understanding of their leadership style and how to engage in effective interdisciplinary collaboration across all phases of emergency management. Challenging and Changing MCH and EPR Systems (Skills): Our intention is to equip participants with the confidence to leverage their personal leadership style and position to successfully advocate for the inclusion of MCH needs within their jurisdiction’s broader EPR efforts, as well as to successfully advocate for embedding a preparedness lens within their MCH Programs. |
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Program Components and Timeline
The MCH EPR Leadership Academy requires a total 25–30-hour commitment over a six (6) month period, beginning in February 2025 and extending through August 2025. This includes active engagement in a sequence of required program components. Visit this document to preview the planned timeline and brief component descriptions. AMCHP will cover registration, travel, and lodging costs associated with attending the AMCHP Conference, including but not limited to the half-day session specifically for Academy participants. Evaluation is embedded throughout the experience to support continuous quality improvement and contribute to longitudinal data about program impact.
Information for Interested Participants
Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 11:59ET. Please consult with your direct supervisor before applying; it is critical that they support your application and will afford you the time required throughout the program cycle to complete all requirements. The application includes a combination of yes/no, short answer, and extended response (3-5 sentences each) questions. Following a review and selection process, decisions will be communicated to all applicants by AMCHP staff by Friday, January 10, 2025.
Click Here to preview the application
Have questions about the program or application process? Please contact Mikayla Frye by sending an email to mfrye@amchp.org.
This project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number NU01DD000037.