New Practices in Innovation Station
Four practices have been added to the Innovation Station database following a review by the Best Practices Committee.

BABY & ME - Tobacco Free (New York) – Helps families quit smoking to improve birth outcomes and reduce the exposure to second- and third-hand smoke at home.

Quality Improvement in Maternity Care via Project ECHO: A Statewide Safety Bundle Initiative (Utah) – Educates and encourages hospitals to implement components of the evidence-based maternal Safety Bundles to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.

Sisters United: Promoting Healthy Habits, Protecting Our Babies (Arizona) – A culturally sensitive, community-based initiative to increase public awareness about the burden of infant mortality, associated risk factors, and how to prevent these deaths.

Providers and Teens Communicating for Health Program (Wisconsin) – Provides communities with a platform to improve health care experiences for young people through an innovative, youth-driven, multiprong, community-based approach.

Increasing Access to Contraception in the Context of Zika Preparedness: Perspectives from State and Local Public Health Agencies
Because infants can be infected by Zika through maternal transmission during pregnancy, prevention of unintended pregnancies is a primary strategy to reduce the number of pregnancies affected by Zika virus infection. In fall 2016, AMCHP convened key representatives of local/state health departments, federal government organizations, and maternal and child health membership organizations to discuss state-implemented approaches to increasing access to the full range of contraceptive methods. This brief provides an overview of strategy discussions addressing logistic/administrative barriers to contraceptive services, provider training, reimbursement, client satisfaction, and consumer awareness.

Replication Project RFA Now Open
Would you like to replicate an effective practice in AMCHP's Innovation Station? Consider applying for the Best Practices Technical Assistance Replication Project. Every year, AMCHP grants up to three technical assistance awards of $10,000 each for states to replicate or adapt an existing emerging, promising, or best practice in Innovation Station as part of an overall goal to improve maternal and child health outcomes by sharing effective and promising practices with state and territorial MCH programs. The request for applications can be accessed here. All applications are due to Lynda Krisowaty (lkrisowaty@amchp.org) by 11:59 p.m. ET on March 9. To learn more about the benefits of participating, watch this video, where two previous recipients share their experiences.

Best Practice Submissions
Do you have an effective or innovative MCH practice you'd like to share so other states can replicate it? AMCHP is accepting submissions for its spring best practices review. All applications must be received by March 9.