From the President
Male Involvement in MCH and Reproductive Health
By Phyllis Sloyer, President, AMCHP
This issue of Pulse spans the boundaries of our maternal and child health world and addresses a critical topic of the impacts men have on reproductive health; a topic of international interest. Research demonstrates that the role of men in reproductive health impacts the health of the male, family planning choices, and pregnancy outcomes, including the future health status of the child. [read more]
From the CEO
Another "M" in MCH?
By Mike R. Fraser, PhD
“Are you at the right meeting?” she asked me earnestly.
“I think so,” I replied. “Is this the women’s health meeting?”
“Yes,” she said. “I am sorry, I just wasn’t expecting a man. You are definitely going to be in the minority.”
We laughed. “I am used to it,” I said. “Don’t worry. There are a few of us who can deal with this stuff.”
We laughed some more and took our places at the meeting room table. Being a man and working in maternal and child health is full of these kinds of stories. Because this issue of Pulse focuses on male involvement and strategies to bring another “M” (men) into MCH, I thought it would be fitting to start with just one of the many times people have been surprised to see yours truly in the room during an MCH meeting and even more surprised to see men actively advocating for increases to the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and other MCH programs. [read more]
Features
Involving Fathers in Hawaii
By Greg Farstrup
Parents & Children Together
Loretta Fuddy
Family Health Services Division
Maternal and Child Health Branch
Hawaii Department of Health
The Hui Makuakane Father Support Program was an innovative effort in which Father Facilitators provided home-based support services — with an emphasis on father-child involvement — to families with young children.
Hui Makuakane (Fathers’ Group) began in 1997 with support from the Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund to Parents and Children Together (PACT), a nonprofit agency. In 2001, with support from the State of Hawaii Department of Health and Maternal and Health Branch, Hui Makuakane was incorporated into Hana Like, a Healthy Start Home Visitor Program, also operated by PACT. [read more]
Waikiki Health Center’s Male Achievement Network (MAN) Program
By Misty Pacheco and Candice Radner
Family Health Services Division, Maternal and Child Health Branch, Hawaii Department of Health
As part of the Federal Title X Family Planning Program, Waikiki Health Center’s Youth Outreach Center is implementing the Male Achievement Network (MAN) Program. MAN is an ongoing skill-based health education program for males most likely to be engaging in high-risk behaviors. [read more]
Engaging Males to Prevent Unplanned Pregnancies in Virginia
By Deborah Harris, MPH, RD, CDE
Women’s Health Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health
The Partners in Prevention Program (PIP) was established to encourage and support community-directed strategies to reduce and prevent the incidence of non-marital births in Virginia. The majority (62.7%) of non-marital births occur in those aged 20-29. This percentage has increased approximately 15% since 1998. Because program funds are limited, PIP targets single women and men in their 20s who reside in high-risk communities as an efficient means of reducing the overall non-martial birth rate in Virginia. [read more]
The “V” Ps of Male Involvement in Title V
By Michael Hayes
Deputy for Family Initiatives, Texas Attorney General’s Office
Kate Wiseheart
Program Specialist for Family Initiatives, Texas Attorney General’s Office
Michael’s wife teaches a class called Women’s Reproductive Health at a university here in Austin, and each semester he has the honor of delivering a guest lecture titled “Men as Partners in Women’s Reproductive Health.” And, each semester, he’s initially met with more than a few quizzical looks from students who (like you, perhaps) seem to be thinking, Wait, this is supposed to be about women’s health. Why are we talking about men? [read more]
Member to Member
Member states were asked the following question:
What strategies do you use to get men (including young men) involved in MCH issues in your state? [read more]