In this bonus episode of MCH Bridges, guest speakers Terrance E. Moore, Chief Executive Officer of AMCHP, and Marcus Allen, immediate Past-President of the AMCHP Board of Directors, discuss the meaning of effective partnerships and relationships and their role in strengthening maternal and child health (MCH).

Through a candid chat recorded live at the 2025 AMCHP Annual Conference, they walk us through Marcus’ experiences as the Director of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs at the Virginia Department of Health and President of the AMCHP Board and the importance of fostering collaborations rooted in purpose and focused on impact for all.

As we look ahead, Terrance and Marcus also discuss the future of partnerships and the most pressing priorities for AMCHP members, including tips for seasoned, new, and emerging MCH professionals seeking to make a difference in their communities.

Tune in now for an insightful conversation about partnerships, balance, self-care, and joy!

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AMCHP Annual Conference Newsletter
• Visit our AMCHP Annual Conference Webpage
• Revisit the AMCHP 2025 Conference Platform
• AMCHP Board of Directors

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. In this episode of MCH Bridges, guest host and Lettercase Program Director Dr. Stephanie Meredith reviews some of the findings from her recent study focused on the experiences of parents receiving a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Dr. Meredith approaches her research as the mother of a 24-year-old son with Down syndrome. Additionally, listeners will gain insight from a recent project aimed at improving support for Black and Hispanic new and expectant parents of children with Down syndrome.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Meredith uplifts the lived experiences of guest speakers Ayah Ibrahim and Tatiana Salinas, two mothers of children with Down syndrome, and emphasizes the importance and real-world impact of their diagnosis experiences. You will also hear from Katie Stoll, providing the perspective of a healthcare professional and leader of the Genetic Support Foundation on how to best support clinicians and families who receive care.

Tune in to witness an important conversation between our guest host and speakers as they delve into what advocates and healthcare professionals can do to reduce emotional harm and disability bias and, instead, empower parents with information and support during this critical time.

Disclaimer: The views presented in this podcast are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute® (PCORI®), its Board of Governors, or Methodology Committee.

Resources:

• Lettercase
• Lettercase PCORI Resources
• Genetic Support Foundation
• The impact of implicit and explicit bias about disabilities on parent experiences and information provided during prenatal screening and testing by Meredith et al.
• Healthcare experiences of patients with Down syndrome who are Black, African American, of African descent, or of mixed race by Krell et al.
• Healthcare experiences of patients with Down syndrome from primarily Spanish-speaking households by Chung et al.
• Parent-reported genetic counselor adherence to the NSGC practice resource for communicating a potential prenatal diagnosis: Impact on the Down syndrome diagnosis experience by Ijaz et al.
• Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
• National Parents First Call Center
• Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Down Syndrome Guidelines
• Practice guidelines for communicating a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: recommendations of the national society of genetic counselors by Sheets et al.
• National Down Syndrome Congress Clinic List
• Jack’s Basket

This episode dives into the world of care mapping, as a continued conversation from a skills-building session at the 2024 AMCHP Annual Conference. Care mapping serves as a powerful tool to help families and professionals coordinate and enhance support and care for children and youth with special health care needs. By visualizing the complex network of care, these maps improve communication and foster a shared understanding among all involved. This episode also explores innovative uses of care mapping, including how it can aid youth in articulating their mental health needs.

Tune in to join our guest speakers in discovering how care mapping can transform the way we approach and manage health care for children, families, and beyond!

Resources:

• Care Mapping: A How-To Guide for Patients and Families (Boston Children’s Hospital)
• Integrated Care at Boston Children’s Hospital: Care Mapping
• Care Maps (Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center)
• Care Mapping: A How-To Guide for Professionals (Boston Children’s Hospital)
• Maternal death and pregnancy-related death (March of Dimes)
• Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them (KKF)
• Safer Childbirth Cities
• Maternal Health Learning & Innovation Center
• Merck for Mothers