
SUCCESS STORIES
AMCHP ALCs Focus on Birth Outcomes
By Piia Hanson
Program Manager, Women's and Infant Health
With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, AMCHP is working on multiple projects that provide capacity-building technical assistance to state MCH programs to ultimately improve birth outcomes. This includes the Optimizing Health Care Reform to Improve Birth Outcomes project and the Partnership to Eliminate Disparities in Infant Mortality project. As we are routinely seeking opportunities to share lessons learned from our member action learning collaboratives (ALCs) in an effort to help your work, we asked our project participants to share their success stories and offer valuable advice. [more]
Success Stories: Reducing Infant Mortality in Teen Pregnancies
The United States has made great strides in reducing teen pregnancy in the last number of years; however, the infant mortality rate for babies born to teen mothers is still shockingly high. Statistics tell us that this is due to babies being born prematurely and at low birth weight. But, the issue is complex; factors such as smoking, lack of adequate prenatal care, substance abuse, domestic violence and poor physical health among others contribute to poor birth outcomes. [more]
Developing Recommendations on Preconception Health for Young Adults with Disabilities: Oregon Experience with an AMCHP ALC
By Lesa A. Dixon-Gray, MSW, MPH
Women’s Health Program Coordinator, Maternal and Child Health Section, Center for Prevention and Health Promotion, Oregon Health Authority
Current preconception health recommendations have not addressed the unique needs of young adults with disabilities. While young adults with disabilities are just as likely to be sexually active and less likely to use condoms, this group is often treated as if they were not sexual beings or would not become pregnant. Approximately one in five women in the United States has a disability (an estimated 16.8 to 28.6 million) and an increasing number of women with disabilities are becoming pregnant and report facing negative attitudes toward their pregnancies and difficulty receiving comprehensive prenatal care. [more]
MEMBER TO MEMBER
Member states that have participated in the MCHB Region IV and VI Infant Mortality Summit and COIN were asked:
What early achievements or successes have you seen? What lessons learned can you share with other states?
Bradley Planey, M.S., M.A.
Associate Branch Chief, Family Health Branch, Arkansas Department of Health
For several years, the Arkansas Department of Health has recognized the importance of reducing the state infant mortality rate (IMR) and it is one of our strategic goals. In 2009, 290 babies died in Arkansas before their first birthday, (an IMR of 7.3 deaths per 1000 live births), placing Arkansas in the top 10 for the highest IMR. The burden of infant death was not shared equally among Arkansas residents. Higher rates occurred in counties with rural, poor and minority populations, especially in the Mississippi Delta. [more]
Kris-Tena Albers, CNM, MN
Director, Infant, Maternal and Reproductive Health Unit, Florida Department of Health
Florida engaging with the MCHB Region IV and VI Infant Mortality Summit and Collaborative provides the state an opportunity to have ongoing communication with the multidisciplinary state team to work on the reduction of infant mortality and preterm births. [more]
Michael Warren, MD MPH FAAP
Director, Division of Family Health and Wellness, Tennessee Department of Health
On Sept. 20, the Tennessee Department of Health hosted a statewide infant mortality summit, "Tennesseans Teaming Up for Change." Forty two local community teams (made up of more than 200 individuals) attended the event. Welcoming remarks were provided by the Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam and Commissioner of Health, Dr. John Dreyzehner. [more]
Sam B. Cooper III, LMSW-IPR
Director, Office of Title V & Family Health, Family & Community Health Services Division, Texas Department of State Health Services
The earliest successes have been seen primarily in strengthened partnerships with stakeholders in our state systems and with local coalitions in Texas. We have improved communication among partners on critical areas that impact the health outcomes of pregnant women and infants. [more]
A VIEW FROM WASHINGTON
How Will the Supreme Court Ruling on the ACA Impact MCH?
By Brent Ewig, MHS
Director, Public Policy& Government Affairs, AMCHP
Now that the dust has settled around the long-awaited Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), we have a little more insight and analysis on what the ruling means for MCH. For kids, it is clear that their eligibility was not changed by the ruling. But for women -- particularly very poor women -- the impact appears to be potentially far reaching. [more]
HONORS AND ACCOLADES
Dr. Ruth Ann Shepard,division director for maternal and child health with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, was awarded this year’s ASTHO Presidential Meritorious Service Award. [more]
WHO'S NEW
New MCH Leaders
See a list of new MCH partners. [more]
GET INVOLVED
Registration for the AMCHP 2013 Annual Conference Is Now Open!
The AMCHP 2013 Annual Conference will be held Feb. 9-12, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. To register, visit regonline.com/amchp2013. Don’t miss our early-bird registration rates -- register now! Full conference registration includes all conference events, including the AMCHP Annual Conference Training Institute -- Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10 (until noon) -- a rich schedule of skills-building sessions and other training opportunities. [more]
AMCHP is now accepting applications for the Ryan Colburn Scholarship. The deadline is 5 p.m. EST, Friday, Oct. 19. AMCHP will award a scholarship to one youth leader to attend the AMCHP Annual Conference 2013. The scholarship is valued at $1800 to cover airfare, lodging and per diem. For more information on how a youth leader in your state should apply for this scholarship, or for more information about the annual conference, please visit the AMCHP website at amchp.org. [more]
2012 NASHP State Health Policy Conference
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) 25th Annual State Health Policy Conference will be held Oct. 15-17 in Baltimore, MD. A preconference on Improving Population Health Outcomes: Creating a Truly Comprehensive Health System will be held on Monday, Oct. 15. [more]
Applications Now Open for the 2012 MCH Epi Pre-Conference Trainings!
This year, AMCHP will offer four training options for those wishing to build their skills in the areas of spatial analysis, quality improvement, scientific writing and leadership. A detailed description of each, including learning objectives and MCH leadership competencies addressed, is available through the AMCHP website. [more]
NNPHI Forum for Quality Improvement in Public Health
The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) will hold the next Open Forum Meeting for Quality Improvement in Public Health. at the Charlotte Marriott City Center in Charlotte, NC on Dec. 6-7. The registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 12. [more]
DATA AND TRENDS
Find data on the current Title V program capacity to use core state preconception health indicators here.
RESOURCES
View and download resources about infant mortality, prematurity and preconception health here.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meet the AMCHP Board of Directors.
AMCHP STAFF
Meet the AMCHP staff.
AMCHP Events
AMCHP 2013 Annual Conference
Feb. 9-12
Washington, DC
MCH Events
Alaska MCH and Immunization Conference
Sept. 27-28
Anchorage, AK
2012 International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Infant
Survival
Oct. 5-7
Baltimore, MD
NASHP 25th Annual State Health Policy Conference
Oct. 15-17
Baltimore, MD
13th Chronic Illness and Disability Conference
Oct. 18-19
Houston, TX
AAP National Conference and Exhibition
Oct. 20-23
New Orleans, LA
APHA 140th Annual Meeting and Exposition
Oct. 27-31
San Francisco, CA
18th Annual MCH EPI Conference Co-hosted with the 2012 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership Conference
Dec. 12-14
San Antonio, TX
SAHM Annual Meeting: Achieving Healthy Equity for Ado- lescents & Young Adults
Mar. 13-16, 2013
Atlanta, GA