
Pulse is AMCHP’s bi-monthly online magazine. Each issue focuses on a different topic and is shared with the entire AMCHP family, including members, partners, and others interested in MCH issues. Never miss our updates! Sign up for our newsletters to receive the latest in maternal and child health news and AMCHP publications straight to your inbox. Subscribe now

Shaping our Future: A More Inclusive, Sustainable Workforce
By Ben Kaufman, MSW, Associate Director, Workforce Development and Capacity Building, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Earlier this year, the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (non-sports fans, bear with me for one short...
Future of Telehealth in MCH
By Brittany Frew, MPH, Program Manager, Clinical and Community Collaboration, and Sabra Anckner, RN, MSN, Associate Director, Clinical and Community Collaboration, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) During the first several weeks and months of...
Using our ‘Why’ to Create a Better Future
By Gabrielle McLean and Eden Desta, Digital Communications Interns, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) "As public health practitioners, we must always remember to keep things in perspective for history is not as far as it seems, to respect the...
Reflecting on Amá: The Untold Story of the Sterilization of Thousands of Indigenous Women at the Hands of the U.S. Government
By Catalina Desouza, Intern, Laura Powis, MPH, Program Manager, Lynda Krisowaty, MHS, Senior Program Manager, and Noeli Vasquez, BS, Public Health Associate, Evidence and Implementation, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) While many believe...
The Marathon
By Joseph Yusuf, A New Deal for Youth Changemaker, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and Generation Hope Scholar AMCHP’s 2022 conference included a session titled “The Path Forward: Strategies to Support Mental Health for Young Adult Parents.” This...
Learning from Loss: Reflections from a First-Time Attendee at the AMCHP Conference
By Elizabeth O’Donnell, Founder of Aaliyah in Action This was Aaliyah in Action’s first year attending the AMCHP Annual Conference. The conference theme, "Reflecting on our Past, Shaping our Future," highly resonated with me, as a mother who experienced loss and is...
Taking Action to Address Environmental Health Today to Protect the Health of Future Generations
By Maura Leahy, MPH, CHES, Program Manager, Child & Adolescent Health, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) When I heard that the theme for this issue of our Pulse newsletter was “Reflections on Shaping our Future,” I immediately thought of...
Overview of Replication Projects
Each year, AMCHP awards four organizations to replicate a practice from the MCH Innovations Database (formerly known as Innovation Station). If selected, applicants receive tailored technical assistance and individualized guidance from AMCHP and...
How Trauma-Informed Yoga is Healing a Generation
By Small World Yoga (Nashville, Tennessee location) Miguel, age 10, rolls up his yoga mat after a 40-minute session of gentle yoga and meditation with his classmates after school. He recognizes that he feels calmer and less anxious about his performance on a math quiz...
A Message from our CEO
By Terrance E. Moore, MA, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) By now, you’ve had an opportunity to experience AMCHP’s 2022 virtual Annual Conference: Reflecting on our Past, Shaping our Future! I would like to...
The Great Balancing Act
By Shirley Payne, PhD, MPH, Assistant Commissioner, Public Health Commission, Indiana Department of Health Throughout the pandemic, we have navigated what I characterize as the great balancing act in both our personal and professional lives. Each area required...
How Are the Parents?
By Jena Martin, Director of Special Populations Family Connection of South Carolina My name is Jena, and I am a full-time mom and professional. Of my four children, one has significant mental health challenges, one qualifies for an Individualized Education...
On Disability, Toxic Productivity, and Selflessness
By Amber Woodside, AMCHP Youth Voice Amplified Committee Member I grew up disabled without knowing what to call it until I was almost 20. I speak more to my ADHD than the fact that I’m autistic in this context, but it’s important for me to say now that within...
Redefining Rest and Productivity
By Atyya Chaudhry, MPP, Senior Program Manager, Health Systems Transformation, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs Burnout. Fatigue. Exhaustion. These terms have defined our work lives since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. As public...
Reflections from AMCHP Board Past President Dr. Manda Hall
By Manda Hall, MD, Associate Commissioner, Community Health Improvement Division, Texas Department of State Health Services As I reflect on my past year as president of AMCHP, the following quote by Dr. Paul Farmer resonates with me: “With rare exceptions, all...
