ASPHN’s Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Nutrition Council provides national leadership on efforts to achieve optimal well-being through healthy eating and active living among the maternal and child population, including those served by Title V/MCH Block Grants. MCH Nutrition Council members represent a wide array of practices and work collaboratively to advocate for nutrition policies, programs and services that improve family health. All ASPHN members are welcome to join the Council! Please scroll down to learn more.
COUNCIL MEMBER ACTIVITIES & BENEFITS
- PROMOTE the importance of equitable access to nutrient-rich foods and support women, children and families in building the skills to routinely incorporate healthy foods and an active lifestyle
- RAISE awareness for the value of evidence-based public health nutrition within the MCH community
- ENGAGE in advocacy and public policy development to influence the ability for women, children and families to easily access nutritious foods and places to be active
- DEVELOP leadership skills by participating in council and ASPHN activities. See our current Council leadership.
- PARTICIPATE in projects that support and achieve the nutritional wellbeing of the MCH population. Read some of our success stories.
- SHARE resources, ideas and information at annual meetings, on conference calls and through Council work
Learn more by reviewing the Council Workplan 2018-2023
“Since my role as the Nutrition Services Coordinator for my state’s WIC program is 100% WIC, the MCH Nutrition Council has been a good opportunity to learn about the other MCH programs out there and determine ways to collaborate and reduce barriers for the mutual clientele we serve.”
– NIKKI DAVENPORT, RDN, LD, IOWA WIC NUTRITION SERVICES COORDINATOR, ASPHN GENERAL MEMBER & MCH NUTRITION COUNCIL PAST-CHAIR
“Since my role as the Nutrition Services Coordinator for my state’s WIC program is 100% WIC, the MCH Nutrition Council has been a good opportunity to learn about the other MCH programs out there and determine ways to collaborate and reduce barriers for the mutual clientele we serve.”
– NIKKI DAVENPORT, RDN, LD, IOWA WIC NUTRITION SERVICES COORDINATOR, ASPHN GENERAL MEMBER & MCH NUTRITION COUNCIL PAST-CHAIR
Join the MCH Nutrition Council!
We welcome you to join the team and enjoy the many benefits of regularly convening with colleagues from across the country! The MCH Nutrition Council offers two types of membership — General Member or State Liaison — which are outlined below. Members in both categories are encouraged to be involved in Council activities and may vote in elections. There is no additional cost to join the MCH Nutrition Council.
Please review the membership types and then click the Join or Update Your Membership button to send us your Council membership request. We look forward to hearing from you!
GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBER
Any ASPHN member (appointed, general, or associate member) interested in maternal and child health may join the Council. Click the Join or Update Your Membership button to get started.
STEERING COMMITTEE
The MCH Nutrition Council work is guided by a steering committee made up of volunteers and elected leadership positions. Any MCH Nutrition Council member is eligible to serve on the steering committee. The Steering Committee meets monthly and actively engages in the MCH Nutrition Council activities to develop and achieve the Council’s workplan.
STATE LIAISON
Each state is allowed one MCH Nutrition Council State Liaison, who is jointly appointed by that state’s ASPHN Appointed Member and Title V/MCH Director. The State Liaison must be either the state ASPHN Appointee or an ASPHN General Member. Learn More…
MCH Nutrition-Related Resources
- 101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child
The Natural Child Project breastfeeding - A Health and Safety Checklist for Early Care and Education Programs
California Childcare Health Programfamily health - Breastfeeding Public Health Partners Toolkit
US Breastfeeding Committee breastfeeding - CACFP Trainer’s Tools: Feeding Infants
USDA Food and Nutrition Service learning - The Cost of Not Breastfeeding
Alive & Thrivebreastfeeding - Healthy People 2020 Midcourse Review
Centers for Disease Control and Preventionmaternal and child health - Impacting Process: Quality Improvement in MCH Training
The University of Tennessee Knoxvillelearning - Infant and Family Support During Emergencies and Disasters
American Academy of Pediatricsmaternal and child health - Infant Nutrition and Feeding, A Guide for Use in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
USDA WIC Works Resource Systembreastfeeding - Feeding Infants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Guide
USDA Food and Nutrition Servicelearning - Life Course Nutrition: Maternal and Child Health Strategies in Public Health
Northwest Center for Public Health Practicelearning - MCH Navigator
National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health, Georgetown Universitymaternal and child health, learning - Policy Briefs developed by participants of the Emerging Leaders in MCH Nutrition Training Institute
- SNAP-Ed Toolkit. Obesity Prevention Interventions and Evaluation Framework
United States Department of Agriculturematernal and child health - Supporting Breastfeeding During Disasters and Emergencies
American Academy of Pediatricsbreastfeeding, maternal and child health, health & safety - WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study 2: Infant Year Report
USDA Food and Nutrition Service infant & toddler feeding
UPCOMING MEETINGS
THE MCH NUTRITION COUNCIL STEERING COMMITTEE meets to plan and support Council activities.
- Every month on the 3rd Monday at noon ET
THE MCH NUTRITION COUNCIL QUARTERLY TA on integrating nutrition into Title V
- December 15, 2022
- March 16, 2023
- June 15, 2023
UPCOMING WEBINARS
THE MCH NUTRITION COUNCIL HOLDS QUARTERLY WEBINARS for MCHB programs and with external experts. Click a date to learn more about that webinar – please note these dates are subject to change.
Webinars on MCHB Programs
- February 16, 2023
- May 18, 2023
- August 17, 2023
Webinars with External Experts
- January 18, 2023
- April 20, 2023
- July 20, 2023