February 2009

From the President

Annual Conference: Create, Change and Act!

By Nan Streeter, President, AMCHP

Do you hear the trumpets sounding the exciting notes of a remarkable time for health policy in our nation? Our theme for this year’s Annual Conference, “Launching MCH Opportunities in a New Era” proves to bring stimulating ideas and information to the new sheet of music we will create for maternal and child health. Whether your focus is on data, maternal and women’s health, building systems of services, promoting medical homes, workforce development, or a variety of children’s health issues, the overall theme is one of remarkable opportunities as we compose the new and future maternal and child health agenda. [read more]

From the CEO

Annual Conference: A Time to Reconnect

By Mike R. Fraser, PhD

AMCHP’s Annual Conference is the one big chance we have each year to connect and engage each other in conversations about what is new, what is important, and what is on our minds. It is our annual occasion to develop big ideas, exchange information, and take the time to understand how we can truly improve our practice of maternal and child health. [read more]

Get Involved

Online Registration Now Available!
Register today online to attend AMCHP’s Annual Conference to convene on February 21-25, 2009, in Washington, DC.

AMCHP February Board Meeting
The next AMCHP Board Meeting will be held during our Annual Conference on Saturday, February 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional information will be provided in the coming weeks. Board Members who will be attending should RSVP to Nora Lam or call (202) 775-0436.

MCHB Medical Home Meeting
Join MCHB and your fellow MCH and CSHCN Directors at a special meeting on Saturday, February, 21 from 2:30 to 6 p.m. to discuss medical homes and learn more about what is happening in other states and at the national level! [read more]

AMCHP Business Meeting
All members, partners and staff are invited to attend a business meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. during our Annual Conference.

Member to Member

We asked three members the following question: Why do you come to AMCHP’s Annual Conference? [read more]

Features

Transforming Our Public Health and Healthcare

By Lauren Raskin Ramos, MPH
Director of Programs, AMCHP

Nemours Health and Prevention Services and the California Endowment have supported a group of national and state policy experts in the development of a proposal to create a 21^st Century Child Health System that better coordinates health care, education, child care and wellness in a way that makes sense for families today and helps parents raise healthy, happy and productive children. Dr. Neal Halfon, Professor of Pediatrics, Public Health and Public Policy, and Director of UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities, shares some of the rationale and components of a transformed child health system. [read more]

Preconception Care

By Stacy Cunningham, MSW, MPH
Associate Director, Women's & Infant Health

AMCHP’s Monday morning plenary – “Preconception Care: Identifying New Opportunities to Improve Women’s and Children’s Health” promises to be exciting! We are thrilled to have Tonya Lewis Lee and Dr. Maxine Hayes as our speakers for this session. They will share national and state perspectives on preconception health and health care, as well as an update on federal initiatives that are promoting preconception care. [read more]

Family Involvement: Working Together to Launch MCH in a New Era

By Eileen Forlenza

Family Specialist

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Kathy Watters

Director, Children with Special Health Care Needs Unit

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

We are delighted to elevate the consumer voice as it relates to AMCHP’s mission, values and vision. Integrating the community perspective has been an intentional part of the Colorado Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) program priorities for over 20 years and we have experienced successful outcomes as a result. Integrating the voice of the community in our work has primarily been done in partnership with families of CSHCN, laying the foundation for the concept of family involvement. [read more]

Features cont.

Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly to Headline Plenary on Newborn Screening

By Lauren Raskin Ramos, MPH
Director of Programs, AMCHP

Jim Kelly, Hall of Fame quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, will share the story of his family and their quest to increase public awareness, early detection and treatment of Krabbe Disease at the AMCHP Annual Conference. Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill established the Hunter’s Hope Foundation in 1997 after their infant son, Hunter, was diagnosed with Krabbe Disease (Globoid-Cell Leukodystrophy). Despite being told that Hunter would not live past 14 months of age, Hunter lived eight years and became the inspiration for Jim Kelly to join national efforts to advocate for comprehensive newborn screening. [read more]

New Administration and Congress

By Brent Ewig, MHA
Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs, AMCHP

You won’t want to miss the closing plenary at this year’s Annual Conference! Come hear perspectives from national leaders on what the new President and Congress might have in store for new policies addressing the health of women, children, and families. Invitations have been extended to representative of the new administration. A panel discussion will then feature Sara Rosenbaum and Bruce Lesley with AMCHP President-elect Phyllis Sloyer. [read more]

View from Washington

The Promise and Peril of the Economic Recovery Act’s Health Provisions

By Brent Ewig, MHA
Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs, AMCHP

As an English major, I was taught to assiduously avoid clichés – but I can’t resist: these very well may be the best of times and the worst of times. To extend the Tale of Two Cities reference, consider this: as state capitals across the nation are facing dire budget crises and being forced to make horrendous budget cuts, our nation’s capital is engaged in a spending spree the likes of which we have never seen. [read more]

Point of View

A "Q&A" with Outgoing President Nan Streeter

Last month we interviewed President-elect Phyllis Sloyer. In this issue, we asked Nan Streeter to reflect on her tenure as AMCHP’s outgoing President. [read more]

Recognition

Recognize Our MCH Leaders!

A highlight of the AMCHP Conference is our chance to recognize MCH leaders. Please join AMCHP in sharing our congratulations with the following awardees at our 2009 Annual Conference. [read more]

Who's New

New Title V Directors

Be sure to look out for new MCH and CYSHCN Directors at the AMCHP Annual Conference! [read more]

Data and Trends

Newborn Screening Tests

View two Newborn Screening graphs by the March of Dimes. [read more]

Board of Directors

Meet AMCHP's Board of Directors.

AMCHP Staff

Meet AMCHP's staff.

Sponsors

See the 2009 Annual Conference Diamond and Silver Level Sponsors.