Speakers:
Fernando Guerra, MD, MPH
Christine Ferguson, JD
Robert Davis
MC: Kay Johnson, MPH, MEd

Be inspired by prominent leaders as they share stories of personal optimism, determination and success. Learn how they have used these key values to guide their lives and shape programs and policies to improve MCH. Gain inspiration for your own leadership and be reminded of the principles that have guided you in your work. During this session, we invite you to contribute to the NPR project, “This I Believe,” by considering your own statement of personal belief.

Download Speaker: Loni Davis, MA

Maternal and Child Health leaders need core leadership skills to get through the daily grind. But what special skills do MCH leaders need and how can they adapt core skills to work effectively in a crisis? This session will actively engage participants in a discussion of leadership competencies, communication techniques and methods used for crisis leadership development. In addition, participants will gain a deeper sense of the leadership skills needed to effectively use emergency preparedness techniques when handling other pertinent MCH issues.

Speaker: Joyce Shabazz, Dianne Berg, SPHR

Organizations should reflect community characteristics to most effectively understand the public and to adequately address their concerns. This session will examine institutional and policy-level strategies to increase diversity (age, race, ability and ethnicity) among health professionals. Participants will gain the leadership skills needed to recruit and maintain a diverse workforce in maternal and child health.

Download  Speaker: Robert Fullilove, EdD

Why do people in groups behave the way they do? Why do groups sometimes fail to function effectively and efficiently? Participants will hear the latest research on group behavior and begin to understand how these theories can be implemented. Specifically, this session will address how to create and facilitate effective groups and employ the art of negotiation within large and small groups.

Everyone is invited to attend this year's membership meeting. Play an important role as an ambassador of your county/city/organization to determine future CityMatCH initiatives. During this session, MCH professionals will have the opportunity to:

1) help shape actions and initiatives to improve maternal and child health in urban areas;
2) join a vibrant network of MCH professionals; and
3) gain information about the values and vision of CityMatCH.

Speakers:
Mary Selecky, Kathy Carson, BSN
MC: Kay Johnson, MPH, MEd

Despite Budget shortfalls, time constraints, priority struggles and job duty realignments, it is vital that public health professionals maintain the ability to focus on the health of women, children and families. During this session, participants will hear sage advice from seasoned professionals and learn strategies for connecting the vision of women, children and families to the mission of public health departments. A story of how one state adapted their Medicaid/EPSDT program through changing times will be used as an illustration of the importance of paying attention to where one is going. CityMatCH lessons learned will be shared, including tools and strategies to get ready for change, build capacity, support practice collaborative and assure accountability. Presentations will discuss how to align data, practice and policy from a leadership perspective, as well as ideas on how to be the hub of innovation in urban communities. Participants should leave this plenary thinking about their role as a leader, what their strategic frame may be and how they can better solidify their actions.

Speaker: Laura Peck, MPH

World Café is a simple and effective process for bringing people together around questions that matter. It is designed on the assumption that people already have within them the wisdom and creativity to confront even the most difficult challenges. In living rooms and board rooms, hotel ballrooms and community centers, schools and churches, tens of thousands of people on six continents have participated in World Café dialogues. Experiencing a Café conversation in action helps us make personal and professional choices about more satisfying ways to participate in the ongoing conversations that help shape our lives and the lives of the women, children and families we serve.

Download  Speaker: Michael Fagen, PhD, MPH

What does your public health program do? With grant applications requiring detailed descriptions of programs, it is essential for public health professionals, not just evaluators, to learn the skills needed to create a logic model. This session will train participants to create a program logic model by using logic model templates from diverse sources. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to use examples from their own agencies and programs during a skill-building exercise in logic model design.

Download  Speakers:
Martha A. Wojtowycz, PhD
A. Dale Tussing, PhD

You are planning to expand smoking cessation services to all pregnant women in your county. How much will it cost? You need to cut your agency’s budget by 25 percent next year. What programs should you keep and what programs should you cut? Economic analysis provides a way of summarizing program and policy outcomes in financial terms, helping decision-makers identify which kinds of programs to retain or initiate. Specifically, in this session participants will learn:

(1) alternative perspectives or points of view from which evaluation can be conducted;
(2) what is really meant by cost;
(3) the basics of different ways of conducting economic evaluations;
(4) the advantages and limitations of doing each kind of study.

Speaker: Barbara Major

During this session, participants will be challenged to analyze the history, culture and relationships of power that contribute to racism within themselves, their organizations and their communities.

Speaker: Pam Gillam, MPA

Many public health professionals intuitively recognize that successful efforts often require collaboration, but American society traditionally rewards and reinforces individual achievements. Indeed, the capacity to share power and influence is an uncommon trait among leaders. For effective collaborations, participants must have a sense of empowerment in order to fully contribute to the decision making process. In this session, participants will:

(1) identify skills and qualities associated with sharing power and influence;
(2) explore "power" and "influence" as they relate to the leadership process and the role of a collaborative leader;
(3) identify eight sources of power and explore their relationship to collaborative leadership and to participants' perception of their personal power;
(4) increase competency in sharing power and influence using outcomes of self-assessment and awareness of resources for extended learning.

Speaker: Joyce Shabazz, Dianne Berg, MS, SPHR

Organizations should reflect community characteristics to most effectively understand the public and to adequately address their concerns. This session will examine institutional and policy-level strategies to increase diversity (age, race, ability and ethnicity) among health professionals. Participants will gain the leadership skills needed to recruit and maintain a diverse workforce in maternal and child health.

Download  Speaker: Loni Davis, MA

Maternal and Child Health leaders need core leadership skills to get through the daily grind. But what special skills do MCH leaders need and how can they adapt core skills to work effectively in a crisis? This session will actively engage participants in a discussion of leadership competencies, communication techniques and methods used for crisis leadership development. In addition, participants will gain a deeper sense of the leadership skills needed to effectively use emergency preparedness techniques when handling other pertinent MCH issues.

Conference participants will have the opportunity to visit and learn from this year's Promising Practice Poster Presentations. Additionally, each participant will be assigned two or three posters to peer review. The goal of the review is to help participants learn how to best compose, construct and present a poster display.

Download  Speaker: Michael Fagen, PhD, MPH

Workshop Prerequisites: Participation in Impact Evaluation – Part I: Designing Logic Models or understanding of and experience creating, logic models. Evaluations are typically conducted to improve the quality of a program or project by identifying its strengths and weaknesses. This session will focus on several evaluation techniques essential to program improvement. Participants will learn how to use logic models and related tools to evaluate program processes and outcomes. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to use examples from their own agencies and programs during skills-building exercises.

Download  Speakers:
Martha A. Wojtowycz, PhD
A. Dale Tussing, PhD

Prerequisites: Participation in Conducting an Economic Analysis: Part I. Building on Economic Analysis: Part I, participants will compute costs and benefits and apply concepts in a real-world public health exercise.

Download  Speakers:
Doug Mains, DrPH
Adela Gonzalez, PhD, MPA

The practice of mentoring and coaching can best be described as a genuine concern for bringing out the best in others, maximizing the use of other people’s talents and resources, building power through sharing power and giving up ownership or control. This session will provide a conceptual foundation and techniques for developing people, including coaching and mentoring. Specifically, participants will:

(1) increase knowledge of the different types of coaching and mentoring approaches;
(2) identify skills associated with effective mentors and coaches;
(3) increase knowledge of assessment tools used in coaching and mentoring.

Download  Speaker: Robert Fullilove, EdD

Why do people in groups behave the way they do? Why do groups sometimes fail to function effectively and efficiently? Participants will hear the latest research on group behavior and begin to understand how these theories can be implemented. Specifically, this session will address how to create and facilitate effective groups and employ the art of negotiation within large and small groups.

Entertainment was provided by conference participants during the Friends of CityMatCH Dinner at Texas de Brazil to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Opening act, James Resnick of HRSA/MCHB wowed the crowd by playing the William Tell Overture on various parts of this head, face and neck. Other acts include a medley by the "Coasters," comprised of DaTA Institute teams from the east and west coast, Board Member Zenobia Harris's solo performance of I Will Always Love You and salsa dancing by member representative, Ramon Rojano from Hartford, Connecticut.

We would like ot extend our thanks to those who lended their talents and the generous participants who helped raise a total of $730.43 for the Salvation Army hurricane relief effort.

Participants were given the opportunity to get a taste of Nia style yoga Monday morning. Approximately 30 earlybirds took part in this free flowing exercise program.

This year's exhibitor's breakfast, sponsored by Boston's local PBS station, WGBH and the Global Health Council, will feature RX for Child Survival, which focuses on the health of children and offers ways to give children in the developing world a fighting chance at living healthy lives by providing inexpensive, effective health interventions. RX for Child Survival aims to shift the world's understanding of global health and leave a legacy that reminds us all that, with the power of our combined voices, we can help prevent many child deaths and our shared planet can be a stronger, healthier place for everyone.

Speakers:
Karla Damus, RN, MSPH, PhD
Christopher Parker, MPH, MPA
Milton Kotelchuck, MA, PhD, MPH
MC: Kay Johnson, MPH, MEd

At the recent National Summit on Preconception Care, professionals from medicine and public health discussed the evidence, current practices and opportunities to improve preconception health. At the same time, some public health leaders questioned whether we have evidence sufficient to support greater emphasis on preconception care? What do we know or not know? These are among the questions to be discussed in our "Town Hall" meeting. The purpose of this session is to focus on bridging science and practice and to discuss what data are ready to support action. The town hall meeting will promote continued communication and collaboration between the research, practice and policy communities. Answers to our most relevant questions will be sought: What does the research really tell us? When is the evidence sufficient to propose a new health prevention strategy? What happens when the science to support practice just isn't there? What are we ready to do now? And how can public health leaders help to improve the evidence through program development and evaluation?

Download Speaker: Karla Damus, RN, MSPH, PhD

Although the majority of perinatal risk factors could be identified in the preconception period, each year hundreds of thousands of women give birth without the benefit of existing preconception health interventions. This session will identify the elements, limitations, benefits and challenges of preconception care. In addition, this session will inform participants about the current push in preconception and interconception health care to develop national guidelines and policies to support these interventions.

Download Speaker: Diana Cheng, MD

Depression affects women of all ages, races, ethnic and social backgrounds. Each year in the United States, approximately 10-15% of new mothers suffer from maternal depression; unfortunately, the majority of these women do not seek help. Untreated, depression can have tragic consequences to the mother, her infant and family. This session will examine the incidence, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of maternal depression. We will then explore various strategies we can utilize to reduce the negative outcomes of this common disorder in pregnant and postpartum women.

Speaker: Barbara Major

This session builds on Sunday’s Skills-Building Workshop. Participants will examine concrete examples and learn steps to implement newly acquired skills into practice at home. This session will feature personal experiences from a local jurisdiction.

Speaker: Peter Simon, MD, MPH

Women and children living in poverty are among the most vulnerable to exposure from environmental health hazards. They are also the most susceptible when they are exposed and the least able to cope with the consequences. This session will explore ways to address health hazards and reduce negative outcomes.

Speaker: Michael E. Connor, MA, PhD

To improve the reproductive well-being of both women and men, increased male involvement is needed in ways that have been traditionally relegated to women. Counseling, education, screening and treatment, choices regarding birth control methods and decisions regarding abortion and infertility ideally involve both partners. This session will address the role of men and their contributions toward improving healthy outcomes for women and children.

Download Speaker: Amy Winterfeld, JD

Are you interested in knowing what other states and communities are doing to address the problems of obesity and overweight? Hear the most up-to-date information on 2005 state legislative actions. Specifically, participants will:

(1) Hear basic information on obesity rates, the health impact of obesity on MCH and the effect on costs;
(2) Gain knowledge of policy options considered in legislatures to address obesity;
(3) Evaluate potential policy actions for impacting obesity and improving MCH.

Download Reverse Site Program Welcome to Fort Worth, Texas! Each year, CityMatCH highlights outstanding public health programs, services and organizations from our host city during a Reverse Site Visit Luncheon. Come check out Fort Worth’s finest programs on teen health, family violence, breast-feeding, oral health and more!

Presentations featured some of the following: comprehensive women’s health programs, prevention of birth defects, solutions to barriers of preconception health care, health promotion, risk assessment, how to leverage health care resources and/or how to enhance services to promote preconception health.

Preconception Health - A Survey Among Practitioners
Stephen Abelman, MBA, White Plains, NY

Using PPOR and GIS to Assess Feto-Infant Mortality Rates and Identify Strategic Areas for Community-Based Intervention In Louisville
Sarojini Kanotra, PhD, MPH, Louisville, KY

Stir-Fried Strategies to Improve Women’s Health
Jennifer Opalek, MSN, MPH, St. Petersburg, FL
Jane Bambace, MEd, St. Petersburg, FL

Presentations reflected local health department efforts to combat overweight and obesity through partnership, practice and policy strategies. These best practice strategies demonstrate community awareness or policy change, illustrate steps to improve community awareness and provide effective tools for change.

Club Possible - Building Attitudes Today for an Active Tomorrow
Mary Balluff, MS, Omaha, NE
Kerri Peterson, MS, Omaha, NE

Get Healthy Kids Club
Helen Jackson, PhD, Jacksonville, FL

Families Preventing Diabetes Through a Community-Based, Collaborative Health Model
Marivel Davila, MPH (abt), San Antonio, TX

Presentations focused on programs designed to assure access and quality of child health care services. In particular, participants will hear about programs that partner with the medical community, work to change key community systems and/or focus on developmental screening.

Pediatric Developmental Surveillance Program: Putting Principles into Practice for Children's Health and Development
Jean Smith, MD, Raleigh, NC

Child Care Health Consultation
Tobie Barton, MA, Chapel Hill, NC

Nurse-Family Partnership in Michigan: Implementing an Evidence-Based Preventive Intervention
Irene Bindrich, RN, MSN, CNS, Denver, CO
William Ridella, MPH, MBA, Detroit, MI

Presentations focused on programs and strategies that have effectively addressed teen pregnancy by utilizing community action groups and reaching out to minority populations.

Teens Listen to Teens: Teen Advisory Board-Peer Education Program
Alicia Saenz, El Paso, TX

Community Doula Program (a March Of Dimes "Comenzando Bien" Agency) Reduces Low Birthweight Rates through Peer-to-Peer Integrated Education and Support
Nathalie Paravicini, MBA, Houston, TX

Promoting Access to Health Services for Adolescents
Sharon Oman, BSN, PHN, Santa Rosa, CA

Presentations reflected local urban health department efforts to address inequities in health through practice and policy strategies and will provide effective tools to eliminate health disparities in urban MCH populations.

Disparities in Perinatal Outcomes Using PPOR: Regional Results for the MCAH Bay Area Data Collaborative
Janet Brown, MSc, Oakland, CA

Addressing Disparity in Health and Health Care for Racial and Ethnic Minorities: An Internal Assessment
Manisha Maskay, PhD, Columbus, OH

The Awards Reception, hosted by Board Chair, Mary Balluff, kicked off with Helen Jackson announcing the promising practices document, Profiles of Perinatal HIV Prevention.

Graduationg DaTA teams from St. Petersburg, FL, Philadelphia, PA, Nashville, TN, San Jose, CA, St. Paul, MN, and Golden, CO were honored and given a chance to summarize their projects.

The Board of Directors surprised Patrick Simpson, Acting Executive Director, with an award for his dedication to keeping CityMatCH on course through this time of transition.

Promising practice awards were presented by the former Education and Training Action Group Vice Chair, Zenobia Harris and her successor, Kimberlee Wyche-Ethridge. Two awards were given to those selected for oral presentation during the Conference, based on the abstract that was submitted. The "Most Replicable" Award went Jennifer Herriot of San Antonio, Texas with honorable mentions to Marivel Davilia, also of San Antonio, and Janet Brown of Oakland, California. The "Most Innovative" Award went to Jennifer Opalek and Jane Bambace of St. Petersburg, Florida with honorable mentions again to Janet Brown of Oakland and Audrey Stevenson and Iliana MacDonald of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Two additional awards were given to those presenting posters, based on a combination of peer and expert review. The "EXTRA EXTRA" Award for Excellence in Translating Results to an Audience went to JPS Health Network with honorable mentions to Carol Brady of Jacksonville, Florida and the St. Paul-Ramsey County DaTA team. The "STAR" Award; Science Translated to Action and Results, was presented to Carol Brady of Jacksonville with honorable mentions to JPS Health Network and the DaTA team from Marion County Health Department.

Dr. Magda Peck, founder and senior advisor of CityMatCH, then took the stage to present the prestigious Ed Ehlinger Award. This award is reserved to recognize the outstanding contributions made by an individual or organization whose commitment and distinguished service has helped shape the future of CityMatCH. Dr. Peck began describing in detail the contributions and accomplishments of the recipient without announcing her name. As the details became more specific, Kathy Carson's eyes began to well with tears. Dr. Peck announced her name and Ms. Carson made her way to the stage through the standing ovation. On behalf of the organization, she was presented with a plaque. On behalf of Ed Ehlinger, the first Chair of the CityMatCH Board for whom the award is name, Ms. Carson received a set of carving including 45 individually hand-carved hearts for each of the Board members with which she has served during her tenure.

Speakers:
Peter C. van Dyck, MD, MPH
Nan Streeter, RN, MS
Mary Balluff, MS

How do we effectively meet the needs of women and children in our rapidly changing political environment? Don't miss this opportunity to hear the perspectives of our federal, state and local leaders as they give their thoughts on how we can stay the course and assure the health of all our mothers and children. This session will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions as we work collectively to improve health outcomes for all.

Download Speaker: Magda G. Peck, ScD

Many of us have been working to improve the health and well-being of women, children and families for years; others are newer to the field. Regardless, we are in it for the long haul, for what choice do we have but to keep doing the work so that all shall thrive on our "watch"? We share a vision and combined purpose for urban maternal and child health; we also share an increasingly difficult challenge. Dr. Magda Peck, founding CEO of CityMatCH will share some early pearls from her "Invisible Heroes Project," launched during her recent sabbatical. Hear how long-standing leaders in the fight for social justice for women and children’s health sustained their "spark" as champions of change through even the darkest of times.

The conference was brought to a close by the beautiful young voices of the choir from OD Wyatt High School. Their performance included arrangements of Over the Rainbow, Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and We Shall Overcome with an encore number of I Believe I Can Fly.

Listen to the choir