Message from the Executive Director
Tracy Russell Executive Director Mother and Child Health Coalition
Tracy Russell
Executive Director
Mother & Child Health Coalition

"What's behind the statistics for maternal mortality in Missouri? Missouri ranks 42nd in the United States for maternal outcomes, with the number of pregnancy or childbirth related deaths per capita among the worst in the nation. Our guests say that's an indicator of poor health in the state overall."
On June 24, Tracy Russel was a guest on the Central Standard program on KCUR 89.3 FM with host Gina Kauffman. They discussed the pressing problem of maternal mortality in Kansas City, and what MCHC is doing about it. Gina's other guests were Dr. Beth Simpson of Children's Mercy Kansas City, and Keri Ingel, Missouri State Representative from Lee's Summit. Listen to the whole segment here: https://www.kcur.org/post/seg-1-maternal-mortality-seg-2-solicited-advice#stream/0
KC Healthy Start Hosts New Arkansas Sister Site
UMKC Institute for Human Development (IHD) hosted an all-day event with Mother & Child Health Coalition (MCHC) for a Healthy Start sister site visit on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) was recently awarded their first Healthy Start grant, and five project members traveled to Kansas City to learn from the experienced Kansas City Healthy Start Initiative (KCHSI) for some thoughtful lessons learned.

The Arkansas Healthy Start program is based in the Northwestern rural area of Arkansas where the largest group of Marshallese outside of the Marshall Islands and Hawaii reside. Much like KCHSI, the Arkansas Healthy Start focuses on serving pregnant women to achieve better perinatal health care.

The morning agenda included presentations by the KCHSI staff including Program Manager‒Dr. Jean Craig, Education and Health Promotions Coordinator‒ Shannon Williams, Outreach Worker ‒Christina Sanchez, and Lead Community Health Workers (LCHW) from Swope Health - Ahkeya Howard, Ashley Hayden-Peaches of Samuel Rodgers Health Center and Marcela Metcalf, LCHW at MCHC. The KCHSI staff shared successes and challenges in serving families and provided practical advice and suggestions in engaging families.

After lunch, Danielle Chiang and Katharine Ragon of UMKC IHD's Early Childhood team shared the REDCap data collection procedures, data management and quality control practices, and the Life Skills Progression curriculum. A robust Q&A session followed and discussion was mainly on the balance between providing quality services and maintaining research capacity. The “meet-up” was beneficial to both KCHSI and Arkansas Healthy Start as it encouraged both sites to continue their good work serving women and infants with high needs.

The teams agreed that future meet-ups would be beneficial for discussing strategies and general moral support of each other as sister sites.
For more information, contact Danielle Chiang at chiangd@umkc.edu or Katharine Ragon at ragonk@umkc.edu You may also contact Dr. Craig at jcraig@mchc.net

Independence Day
The office will be closed on Thursday, THE 4TH OF JULY
Have a very happy and safe
celebration!
TIPS from Safe Kids Worldwide

Look Before You Lock!
It's HOT!
If you think you couldn't possibly forget a child in a car, think again. It can and does happen to people from all walks of life. 2019 was the worst year since 1998 - 52 children died in hot vehicles. 16 have died so far this year and it's only going to get hotter. Why was last year so terrible? Who does this? How can this happen?? Read about it and take steps to make sure it doesn't happen to you or a loved one this summer.
Coming Events - Mark Your Calendar

Thursday, July 18, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. MCHC Office: Safe Haven for Newborns Coalition Meeting. Come join us!

NOTE: There will be NO MCHC Quarterly meeting in July.

Saturday, Aug. 10 - Jackson County Sheriff Back-to-School Bash with Safe Kids Metro KC

Wednesday, Sept. 4 - Mid America Immunization Coalition Quarterly Meeting
CHOCOLATE MILK:
A DOCUMENTARY
FILM SCREENING

Wednesday, August 14, 2019
1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Please use the link below to register.


Told through the narratives of three African American women: a new mother, a midwife and a WIC lactation educator, the film seeks to answer the longstanding question of why more African American women are not breastfeeding.

By creating an engaging narrative centered around the challenges of breastfeeding, Chocolate Milk will spark public discussion on how communities can better support black mothers.

Join us for a free screening and panel discussion with breastfeeding experts from Women, Infants & Children (WIC) and breastfeeding moms.

Co-hosted by Mother & Child Health Coalition and Samuel U. Rodgers WIC.

Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
825 Euclid Ave KCMO 64124
Lower Level Community Rooms A & B
Light refreshments will be served
Please use the link below to register.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Mid America Immunization Coalition's ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
Children's Mercy Park
1 Sporting Way, Kansas City KS

Friday, November 15, 8:00 -11:30 a.m. Mother & Child Health Coalition Quarterly Meeting (the annual Legislative Meeting.)

To learn more go to the MCHC Online Calendar

...to our members, volunteers and partners, for all your support! We appreciate you.

The following wonderful people renewed their membership
during May or June:

Charlene Burnett (MEMBER SINCE 2004!!), Beth Diebold,
Rachael Elmore and Ashley Stumpenhaus.

NEW member: Kara Hinrichs

Welcome!! 
JOIN TODAY
Join or renew your membership today.
Thank you for your support!
DONATE
Your donation in any amount will help us continue our work helping Kansas city area families to be safer and healthier.
Mother & Child Health Coalition
(816) 283-6242 | (816) 283-0307 Fax
info@mchc.net
www.mchc.net