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The physical and mental health of young people are critical to the future of any society. But gaps, failure to address personal needs and limited resources can burden programs intended to educate the public and advance policies and health systems.

This topic concerns students and faculty of the (COPH), who participated in the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) conference in Washington, D.C. The annual meeting brings together experts in the field who are committed to the wellbeing of women, children and families. 

USF had a strong presence this year: Nine students and three faculty members from USF’s presented and networked with other professionals from around the United States. The USF center is recognized as a leader in training students and the workforce and is just one of thirteen designated centers with funding from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.

This year, the center’s scholars program is spotlighting the critical gap in policy training for MCH professionals by equipping graduate students with the practical skills needed to analyze, advocate for and implement effective policies, said COPH alumna , professor and director of the USF Center of Excellence in MCH Education, Science and Practice.  

“The training showcases how health policies are created, debated and implemented,’’ she said. “Policy scholars hear from experts about the inner workings on how policy can make important and positive change in the lives of women, children and their families.’’

In addition to networking with leaders across the nation and meeting up with alumni and colleagues, Morgan Brown and Melissa Newsome − both MCH scholars − gave two presentations on issues that together underscored the need to improve public approaches to the health of young people.

In “Trauma-Informed Sexual Health Education for Justice-Involved and Marginalized Youth: An Inclusive, Comprehensive Approach,’’ Brown, who graduated in May with a degree, described how many people are at higher risk for sexual violence, sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancy than their counterparts.  

“Traditional sexual health education programs often fail to address youths' unique needs, like the impact of trauma on their personal lives, interactions with the criminal legal system and experiences with structural systems of oppression,’’ she said.  

In “Clinic Perspectives on Screening to Solutions: Addressing Social Needs in Maternal Health,’’ Newsome, a current student, discussed how social needs shape maternal and child health, yet screening and response vary widely across perinatal settings.

“We know little about how perinatal providers perceive and use social needs screening, limiting efforts to embed it in routine care,’’ Newsome said.

Much of Brown’s presentation focused on the Choosing Myself program, a comprehensive and evidence-informed sexual health education curriculum designed to empower youth to understand the role they play in their own sexual health. Globally, an estimated 19 million girls ages 10 to19 give birth annually, and these pregnancies are associated with a higher risk of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis and systemic infections compared with deliveries among women over the age of 20. 

“So, a comprehensive approach is necessary to address this population's unique needs – a gap Choosing Myself aims to address,’’ Brown said.

Implemented by health experts in Tampa and Savannah, Ga., the program aims to:

• Revolutionize sexual health education by addressing the role of trauma in sexual health education for youth  
• Elevate the quality of trauma-informed care within sexual health education by making it accessible and prioritizing participant-centeredness and program relevance
• Directly address how trauma may impact youth’s ability to educate themselves about sexual activities and health  
• Use mindfulness and self-care techniques to make the class a safer place 

Newsome’s presentation, based on her dissertation work, focused on how prenatal care teams identify and address social needs such as housing instability, food insecurity, transportation issues and other barriers that can make it harder to stay healthy during pregnancy.

“These needs matter because they can affect a patient’s ability to attend appointments, afford food or medication, feel safe at home and manage pregnancy-related stress,’’ she said. “When social needs are identified early and addressed, it can improve the pregnancy experience and support healthier outcomes for both parents and infants.’’

When these needs aren’t met, pregnancy can become more stressful and even dangerous, even before a medical problem appears, Newsome said. However, clinics often lack the time, staff, resources, or training to make it part of routine care. She hopes to address these gaps by examining how community health clinics use the right tools and link patients to support services. 

“Ultimately, this work is about making sure important everyday needs do not slip through the cracks during prenatal care,’’ she said. “Because linking people to basic resources such as food, housing, transportation and safe living conditions can have a positive impact on health during and after pregnancy.’’

In conjunction with the conference, USF MCH scholars and faculty participated in Hill Visits, advocating to legislative staff on the importance of continuing to fund Title V − a "block grant" that provides an array of clinical services, community programs and workforce training for MCH populations. 

Other USF faculty at the annual convention were Drs. and , both assistant professors in the .