MCH Training and Research Alert A Monthly Alert from the Division of Maternal & Child Health Workforce Development
HRSA Funding Opportunities
Maternal and Child Health Services
Applications due: August 12, 2022
The purpose of the Title V MCH Services Block Grant program is to enable each state to:
- Assure mothers and children access to quality MCH services
- Reduce infant mortality
- Provide access to prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care to women
- Increase the number of low-income children who receive regular health assessments and follow-up diagnostic and treatment services
- Provide access to preventive and primary care services for low-income children as well as rehabilitative services for CSHCN
- Implement family-centered, community-based, systems of coordinated care for CSHCN
- Provide toll-free hotlines and assistance with applying for services to pregnant women with infants and children who are eligible for Title XIX (Medicaid)
health care access CSHCN coordinated care health services health equity
State Systems Development Initiative
Applications due: August 24, 2022
The purpose of the program is to improve MCH outcomes in the 59 states and jurisdictions by increasing capacity to collect, analyze, and use reliable data for state/jurisdiction Title V policy and program development. These funds support expansion of data linkages of key MCH datasets for analysis; improved access to and analysis of health equity data; and translation of data into action at the state/jurisdictional level.
MCH outcomes Title V health equity data
Strengthen the Evidence for MCH Programs
Applications due: September 8, 2022
The purpose of this program is to increase the effective design, implementation, and monitoring of evidence-based or -informed strategies by Title V MCH Block Grant programs in order to improve MCH. The goals of the program include:
- Increased ability of Title V agencies to effectively design, implement, and monitor evidence-based or -informed strategies
- Increased number of NPM goals achieved each year that contribute to meeting the goals of the Title V NOMs
- Increased contribution to the evidence base from states and jurisdictions’ implementation of evidence-based or -informed strategies
- Enhanced and increased publicly available digital resources related to MCH
MCH outcomes Title V NPMs NOMs strategies
Informational
American Academy of Pediatrics
Safe Sleep Recommendations | Public Health Campaign for COVID-19 Vaccinations | Support for Breastfeeding Mothers
Safe Sleep Recommendations: Back is Best
The AAP emphasizes the need for infants to sleep on their backs on flat surfaces within its first update to safe infant sleep recommendations since 2016. The policy statement, “Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment,” is in the July 2022 issue of Pediatrics. The statement is accompanied by a technical report that provides the evidence base for updated recommendations, which apply to children up to 1 year old.
Public Health Campaign to Educate Caregivers on the COVID-19 Vaccines for All Ages
On June 18, the AAP updated its policy statement on the COVID-19 vaccination for children to reflect the availability of safe and effective vaccines for children ages 6 months and older. AAP has also launched 2 new public service announcements that encourage parents to talk with their child’s pediatrician, available in English and Spanish.
More Support for Breastfeeding Mothers Needed
The AAP outlines its recommendations and evidence of significant health benefits to infant and mother within an updated policy statement and technical report titled, “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk.” They were published in the July 2022 issue of Pediatrics. The updates include a recommendation to support parents who choose to breastfeed their infant to age 2 and beyond.
infant health safe sleep COVID-19 vaccinations breastfeeding maternal health
Bright Futures, American Academy of Pediatrics
2022 Periodicity Schedule for Preventive Pediatric Health Care
The "2022 Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care" or the Periodicity Schedule, will be published in the July 2022 issue of Pediatrics. The recommendations describe the screenings and assessments at each well-child visit from infancy through adolescence. The 2022 update adds recommendations to screen for depression and suicide risk to align with existing guidance from AAP and other health care organizations.
pediatric health care screening and assessments pediatric mental health
Child Trends
Alignment Between Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems Benefits | Supporting Young Parenting Students
Alignment Between Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems Benefits Children and Families
This brief provides a rationale for better coordination between the early childhood and child welfare systems. Recommendations for alignment and examples of strong alignment in the field are also described and can be used to help leaders from both systems as they strive to create robust systems that address the critical needs of families.
Supporting Young Parenting Students with Navigation Services
This brief provides context and background on young parenting students. Challenges they face in seeking higher education and services to support themselves and their families are explored. Navigation services are described as a promising strategy that communities are using to support them.
early childhood child welfare family health adolescent health parenting navigation services
Got Transition, American Academy of Pediatrics
2022 Transition Coding and Payment Tip Sheet
The new 2022 Transition Coding and Payment Tip Sheet supports the delivery of recommended health care transition services in pediatric and adult primary and specialty care settings. It includes an updated list of transition-related CPT codes, including new Care Management codes.
coding and payment provider information pediatric health transition services
National Institute of Health Care Management
Gun Violence is a Major Public Health Problem
Recent mass shootings continue to devastate communities nationwide and call attention to public health needs surrounding gun violence. Mass shootings can lead to major depression, PTSD, and other mental distress among survivors and impact those who are following the news. This mini-infographic presents current statistics related to gun violence in the United States.
adolescent health gun violence community health mental health
National Academy for State Health Policy
States Address School Vaccine Mandates and Mask Mandates
With children ages 5 and older now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots widely available to adults, states are continuing to develop policies on vaccine requirements in schools, both for students and faculty. States are also addressing school mask mandates amidst increasing youth vaccination rates and fluctuations in pediatric COVID-19 cases. Explore states’ up-to-date approaches to school COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements in this map.
COVID-19 vaccination rates school health
National WIC Association
WIC Programs are a Welcoming Place for All, Including LGBTQ+ Individuals
Since its inception in the early 1970s, the WIC program was designed to be a safe harbor for people in underserved communities who have often faced barriers to programs and services and who have experienced historical social and health disparities—including members of the LGBTQ+ community. This resource highlights strategies for local WIC clinics to employ and enhance service provision for LGBTQ+ individuals.
WIC programs LGBTQ+ community health health disparities
Training & Educational
MCH Navigator
MCHsmart Online Curriculum: Smart Learning for the MCH Community
The MCHsmart online curriculum provides MCH professionals, students, and current/future faculty with a comprehensive, self-paced learning system organized around the MCH Leadership Competencies. The curriculum provides engaging and accessible learning and implementation resources to address today’s most pressing issues.
workforce development distance learning MCH competencies leadership education
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
MCH Journal Writing and Publishing Workshop
Friday, July 22, 2022
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET
Dr. Timothy Dye, Editor-in-Chief of the MCH Journal, is leading a writing and publishing workshop for authors who are submitting to the forthcoming supplement, Public Health Approaches to Perinatal and Substance Use. This is the second part, reserved for office hours.
distance learning writing and publishing perinatal health substance use
School-Based Health Alliances, Got Transition
School-Based Health Center Playbook on Health Care Transition
The School-Based Health Alliance and Got Transition, in collaboration with an advisory group of SBHC clinicians, administrators, and young adults, created this SBHC HCT Playbook. The Playbook guides SBHCs and school staff on assisting students with their preparations for the transition from pediatric care to adult health care.
workforce development health care transition health equity adolescent health adult health care
Training & Educational Webinars
Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health
Systems Approaches in Autism Services Research
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET
This webinar provides an overview of systems approaches, concepts, and methodologies that could help lead to long-term change, with real-world examples drawn from within autism employment research and public health. Holistic approaches to inquiry, such as systems thinking and action research, target situations that have high degrees of complexity or heterogeneity.
autism systems thinking action research
Dialogue4Health
Big Ideas in Overdose Prevention: Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET
Evidence-based practice is essential for preventing addiction and overdose in our communities, especially interventions that have remained consistently effective over time. This Web Forum will highlight the importance of how to avoid reinventing the wheel.
overdose prevention prevention strategies community health
National WIC Association
Moms in Crisis: How the Infant Formula Shortage and Pandemic are Feeding Maternal Mental Health Conditions
Thursday, August 4, 2022
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET
This webinar will explain the basics of maternal mental health conditions, including signs and symptoms, causes and risk factors, and steps to wellness. The webinar will also focus on the various stressors affecting pregnant and postpartum people today, including the pandemic and infant formula shortage.
maternal mental health formula shortage COVID-19
Training & Educational Webinar Archives
Association of Teachers of Maternal & Child Health, MCH Navigator
The Water of Systems Change Approach: Connecting the Dots for Health Equity, Racial Justice, and Social Determinants of Health
In this webinar, members of the National MCH Workforce Development Center explained the basics of the Water of Systems Change (WSC) framework and how it is used as an organizing theory for state and local health departments to organize their efforts in addressing disparities and racism while advancing other SDoH. The presenters then engaged participants in a discussion and brainstorming session of how these approaches can be applied and taught in academic programs.
workforce development SDOH health equity racial justice WSC framework MCH competencies
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
A Journey to Birth Justice: A Panel Discussion with the Filmmakers of Aftershock
In April 2022, the AMCHP hosted this panel discussion about Birth Justice during Black Maternal Health Week featuring Aftershock filmmakers Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis and maternal health advocate Shawnee Benton-Gibson.
health equity anti-racism maternal and infant health birth justice
Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health
Autism in Girls and Women
In this webinar, Dr. Christine Wu Nordahl provided an overview of current research focused on understanding autism in girls and women. Topics included biological and clinical theories about:
- The difference in the sex ratio of autism
- Current insights into neurobiological sex differences in autism
- Unique challenges faced by autistic girls and women
autism women’s health biological and clinical theory neurodevelopmental disabilities
Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health, Healthy Weight Research Network
Food Selectivity in Autism: Causes, Consequences and Remediation
Food selectivity is the most frequently identified feeding issue associated with autism. Introducing new foods to a child with food selectivity can be challenging. In this webinar, a new model for assessing and treating food selectivity was presented, Treating Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Systematically through Exposure, with specific adaptations for working with children with autism.
autism adolescent health nutrition food selectivity ARFID
Dialogue4Health
Big Ideas in Overdose Prevention: Be Willing to Pivot
The evidence behind effective overdose prevention strategies is constantly evolving. Being willing to pivot is a key skill that organizations must adapt in order to keep its overdose prevention strategies current and effective. This Web Forum highlighted the importance of being willing to pivot our overdose prevention practices in a rapidly changing crisis.
overdose prevention prevention strategies community health