# Presentation: 278822

## Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs – Perinatal HIV Prevention Activities, February 2002

**Carol Watson, MPH**
**Senior Project Director**
**Women’s and Perinatal Health**

- AMCHP, 2002

## Organization’s Mission

**The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) is a national, non-profit organization principally made up of the directors and staff of state public health agency programs for maternal and child health and children with special health care needs. AMCHP's mission is to provide leadership to assure the health and well being of all women of reproductive age, children and youth, including those with special health care needs, and their families. **

- AMCHP, 2002

## Description of Perinatal HIV Prevention Activities

**Through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, AMCHP builds and strengthens Title V program capacity to carry out three broad public health activities: assessment of the prevalence and incidence of HIV infection among infants and women of reproductive age, development of policies to prevent perinatal HIV, and assurance that quality HIV screening and treatment services are available and accessible to all women within the states. **

- AMCHP, 2002

## Perinatal HIV Action Learning Labs

**The Action Learning Lab (ALL) is a**** two-part intensive activity that brings together cross-program teams of state health officials and other key players involved in the prevention of HIV transmission from pregnant women to their infants. AMCHP is collaborating with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and CityMatCH. AMCHP also received input from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors.**

- AMCHP, 2002

## Perinatal HIV Action Learning Labs Cont.

**Hallmarks of the ALL experience include: **
**	****An informal, interactive format for most ****	****activities; **
**	****Presentation of timely, real-world information ****	****by participants from several states, field ****	****experts, and persons living with HIV/AIDS – all ****	****of whom are acquainted with the issues at ****	****hand; and,**
**	****The opportunity to build relationships with and ****	****learn from key policy-makers from participants’ ****	****own and other states.**

- AMCHP, 2002

## Perinatal HIV Action Learning Labs Cont.

**The first Learning Lab took place in July 2001 in Washington, DC.**** ****The following states applied and were accepted to participate in the first Action Learning Lab:  District of Columbia, Florida, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. **

- AMCHP, 2002

## Perinatal HIV Action Learning Labs Cont.

**Participants at the July 2001 ALL had an opportunity to:**
**Catalog state assets that facilitate the prevention of perinatal HIV transmission; **
**Catalog state barriers that hinder the prevention of perinatal HIV transmission; **

- AMCHP, 2002

## Perinatal HIV Action Learning Labs Cont.

**Determine ways to integrate the work of key players (i.e. health officials supported by the Title V, Title IV, Title II, and Title X programs; ACOG Sections, AIDS Education and Training Centers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics) to reduce duplicative efforts and to achieve the best client outcomes and experiences within the health system;  **
**Problem-solve with recognized experts in relevant fields (e.g., data collection, provider training, and other areas identified by participants); and,**

- AMCHP, 2002

## Perinatal HIV Action Learning Labs Cont.

**Develop a six-month action plan to institute short-term systems changes.**
**In April 2002 in North Carolina, participants will re-convene for a follow-up Learning Lab to assess progress of action plans, continue problem-solving, conduct site visits to observe promising practices, and formulate longer-range goals.**
**In July 2002, AMCHP will convene a new set of states for participation in another perinatal HIV prevention ALL.**

- AMCHP, 2002

## Perinatal HIV Prevention Policy Manual

**AMCHP is developing a perinatal HIV prevention policy manual. The manual is envisioned as one way to encourage and assist states—and state MCH programs, in particular—to broaden and refine the scope of their activities to prevent perinatal HIV transmission.  The manual will cover several areas including data and surveillance, provider training, counseling and testing, outreach and case management, integration of maternal and child health services, and funding. It will be available in spring 2002.**

- AMCHP, 2002

## For more information -

**Carol Watson, MPH**
**1220 19****th**** Street, NW**
**Suite 801**
**Washington, DC 20036**
**Phone (202) 775-0436**
**E-mail: cwatson@amchp.org**

- AMCHP, 2002

**For more information, please contact:**

- AMCHP, 2002