In September 2010, over 250 urban MCH Leaders gathered in Chicago, IL for the 20th Anniversary CityMatCH Conference. The conference focused on the CityMatCH’s hallmark trifecta: Urban, MCH, and Leadership.

Celebrate Urban! While several of our great partner organizations focus on similar health issues, CityMatCH remains the only organization focused on the unique challenges and opportunities faced in our nation's urban communities. Sessions focused on multiple sectors of an urban environment - health, housing, violence, the built environment – demonstrating the importance of keeping this focus as we move MCH forward.

Celebrate MCH! The 20th anniversary CityMatCH conference coincided with the 75th anniversary of Title V -- the landmark legislation that continues to provide funding and focus for maternal and child health. This year's conference examined how far we have come in the world of MCH and the challenges that remain. Sessions covered updates on core MCH issues (e.g. adolescent health, oral health), encouraged participants to take on new challenges (e.g. preconception health, early childhood development) and offered opportunities to discuss incorporating a life course perspective into our daily work.

Celebrate Leadership! From the beginning, CityMatCH has understood that it takes more than an MCH Director to lead a community toward improved outcomes for women, children and families. Instead, it takes leaders who are capable of bringing the community together and seeing them through processes that yield long-term, measurable results. This year's conference facilitated the development and advancement of these leadership traits through sessions focused on using the power of stories, understanding the demographic shifts our communities are underdoing, and preparing succession plans.

And these first 20 years are just the beginning…