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Healthy Generations eNewsletter

September 2026

Healthy GenerationseNewsletterSeptember 2026

Center Announcements Center Announcements

Laptop and smart phone displaying the interactive mental health and well-being socio-ecological model.
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New Resource: Interactive Mental Health and Well-Being Socio-Ecological Model

An interdisciplinary team from the Center, UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing and the MN Department of Health (MDH) developed the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) of Mental Health and Well-Being into a dynamic, multi-layered online tool. The interactive SEM provides a framework for students, practitioners, community leaders and others to explore the dynamic interplay between personal, community and societal factors on mental health and wellbeing.

UMN MCH Program Alumni? We Want Your Feedback!

MCH Program Director Dr. Zobeida Bonilla is conducting a review to determine any changes that should be made to the MCH curriculum. If you’d like to share your feedback on how to improve the MCH Program, please complete this short survey by Wednesday, September 23. Questions? Email zbonilla@umn.edu.

Highlighting MCH Program Alumni and Center Faculty Member Dr. Rebecca Shlafer: Turning Pain Into Purpose

Learn about Dr. Shlafer’s efforts, which focus on the experiences of women who have given birth while incarcerated, and how she is working to improve long-term health and well-being for mothers and their children.
Explore policies and programs across the United States through JIWCC resources.
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New from the Justice-Involved Women and Children Collaborative (JIWCC)

The (JIWCC), led by the Center, continues to expand its resources related to pregnancy and postpartum care for people who are incarcerated. The JIWC Clearinghouse is an interactive database used to explore policies related to pregnancy and postpartum care across the US. The JIWCC also launched the Enhanced Perinatal Programs Directory, a companion resource to the Clearinghouse, that features an interactive map and directory of enhanced perinatal programs serving incarcerated individuals across the US. Recent publications include a new policy brief, State Laws on Enhanced Perinatal Support Programs for People who are Pregnant and Incarcerated, and updates to other policy briefs. Stay tuned for additional JIWCC resources, publications and updates in the coming months.

Student Spotlights Student Spotlights

Fransisca Anozie headshot in front of light orange background.
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MCH Leads Blog: Strengthening Child and Family Health Through Multidisciplinary MCH Approaches

Fransisca Anozie, recent MPH graduate from the University of Michigan School of Public Health’s Center of Excellence in Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, is September’s featured author of the MCH Leads Blog. In her blog entry, Fransisca applies MCH Competency 1 (MCH Knowledge Base) to her time working with youth. Fransisca shared, “Improving the physical and mental well-being of children extends far beyond access to therapy or counseling services. Children thrive when they are raised in safe and supportive environments.” Learn more about Fransisca’s contributions here.

Center Events Center Events

Poster showcasing Dr. Michael Beckstrand and details on the Bright Spots Qualitative Mini-Lab event.
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Mini Lab: Artificial Intelligence in Qualitative Research With Michael Beckstrand

October 15, 2026 | 11:00 am-1:00 pm CDT | Virtual

This fall, the Bright Spots Qualitative Mini-Lab welcomes Dr. Michael Beckstrand to host a hands-on webinar detailing the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the qualitative research space. Come explore the ever evolving landscape of generative AI usage in qualitative research. This session guides researchers through both the ethical and practical implementation of generative AI across the qualitative research process. Participants will also learn effective prompting techniques, discuss guidelines for responsible practice and consider the utility of chat bots like Gemini versus both more programmatic uses and built-in AI features within qualitative analysis software. Participants will be able to:

  1. Navigate both ethical and practical limitations to using generative AI in a peer-reviewed qualitative research setting
  2. Evaluate the strengths and trade-offs of different AI platforms to select the appropriate tool across various stages of the qualitative research process
  3. Apply good practices for effective prompting strategies for various tasks and gain exposure to different tools and techniques.


Free, virtual and open to all.

  • Register here

Research Research

Vision Screening and Vision Loss-Related Conditions Among American Indian or Alaska Native Children

In this cross-sectional study of children ages 3-17 years, co-author and MCH Program alumni Dr. Laurel Cederberg found that “...American Indian or Alaska Native children experienced a higher burden of vision loss-related conditions despite comparable screening rates; across all race and ethnicity groups, screening rates were lowest among young children. These findings highlight opportunities to strengthen early vision screening.”

Losing Our Lens on Maternal and Infant Health—The Consequences of Disrupting PRAMS

This article from JAMA Network’s JAMA Health Forum discusses the importance of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). PRAMS is a “comprehensive surveillance program…established nearly 4 decades ago to improve maternal and infant health by collecting information from recently pregnant women about their behaviors and experiences before, during and immediately after birth.”

Why Do We Focus on the Prenatal-to-3 Age Period?: Understanding the Importance of the Earliest Years

This new research brief from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center focuses on why it's important to invest in family supports during pregnancy and early childhood, emphasizing the importance of this period for children's lifelong health and well-being.

Events Events

Many Faces of Community Health Annual Conference

September 29, 2026 | 7:30 am-5:00 pm CDT | Brooklyn Center, MN

At this conference, “Attendees come together to learn about the impact of health care and how to apply best practices to the delivery of primary care to Minnesotans. Many health care organizations and companies support Many Faces as sponsors and/or exhibitors, joining with public health and community-based agencies to promote our conference and deepen our impact on Minnesota’s health care providers and patients.”

  • Register here

Evidence, Equity and Action: Preventing Youth Violence and Injury

October 1, 2026 | 9:00 am-1:30 pm CDT | Hybrid: St. Paul, MN or Virtual

At this symposium, participants will learn how public health approaches can help reduce youth violence and hear from leaders in health care, local government and community organizations who are working together to build safer, healthier communities. Hosted by HealthPartners Institute’s Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center.

  • Register here

Practice Day 2026: Discover How Public Health Knowledge Meets Real-World Impact

October 29, 2026 | 11:00 am-2:00 pm CDT | Coffman Memorial Union, Mississippi Room

Hear from School of Public Health (SPH) students as they showcase their work while organizations promote job and networking opportunities for students. Free lunch is provided.

  • Learn more here

American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo: Together We Thrive–Health Across the Lifespan

November 1-4, 2026 | San Antonio, TX

APHA’s annual meeting is the largest public health gathering of the year, convening 11,000 public health professionals and partners from around the world. Discounted registration rates available for students, early career professionals and retired professionals, and virtual participation is available for some portions.

  • Register here

Infant and Early Childhood Multidisciplinary Conference

November 15-17, 2026 | St. Paul, MN

Hosted by the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH), this conference “Promotes infant and early childhood mental health principles to inform practice across disciplines. It brings together a vast network of multidisciplinary professionals from across the state who all work with young children, their families and caregivers.”

  • Register here

National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Annual Conference: Families at the Nexus of Law and Policy–The Intended and Unintended Consequences of Legislating Families and Relationships

November 18-21, 2026 | Minneapolis, MN

Join NCFR for their annual “family reunion” of Family Science and professionals working with families. At this conference, “Students, faculty, researchers and family professionals converge for transdisciplinary learning and form career-spanning relationships.”

  • Register here

Resources Resources

  • Professional Development Opportunity: Deadline Extended for AMCHP's Leadership Lab
    This opportunity is one of the primary ways that the Association of MCH Programs (AMCHP) support professional and career development for individuals working in or in close relationship with state/jurisdictional Title V programs. AMCHP staff are recruiting participants (mentors and mentees) for 5 unique cohorts that run concurrently from October 2026-May 2027.


  • Fact Sheet and Web Page: Identifying Signs of Physical Abuse in Babies

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has launched a new educational resource “to help parents and caregivers identify and prevent physical abuse in infants aged 6 months and younger. The new fact sheet and webpage focus on recognizing critical warning signs of physical abuse such as bruising, facial injuries or signs of abusive head trauma, and emphasize the importance of seeking immediate medical attention. Providers are encouraged to share the fact sheet during an initial well-baby visit. Additional information and the fact sheet can be found on the Identifying Signs of Physical Abuse in Babies webpage. The fact sheet is available in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish.”


  • Web Page: Resources and Solutions to Address Burnout in Public Health Settings

This resource from Child Trends details how to address burnout in public health contexts, both personally and systemically. The page provides practical, research-based tools for professionals to avoid burnout and promote their own wellbeing and support their peers.


  • Webinar Recording: Youth Mental Health–Trends, State-Level Strategies and the Role of Digital Technology
This webinar from the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) covers the latest youth mental health trends. This includes challenges, drivers and approaches to preventative mental health care.


  • September National Observance Resources

    • Suicide Prevention Month

    • National Recovery Month

    • 9/9: International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day

    • 9/18: National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD)

    • 9/26: World Contraception Day

You received this message because you have subscribed to the Healthy Generations listserv. Please note the information in this newsletter are those of the authors or event organizers and should not be construed as sponsored/endorsed by the Center. This newsletter is produced monthly by the Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Email mch@umn.edu to have your event, resource, or publication included in our eNewsletter.


Copyright © 2026 The Center for Leadership Education in Maternal & Child Public Health - University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

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Looking for technical assistance on your MCH-related work? Email mch@umn.edu. Looking for technical assistance on your MCH-related work? Email mch@umn.edu.

The Center for Leadership Education
in Maternal & Child Public Health

The Center is supported by HHS HRSA (grant # T76MC00005). https://mch.umn.edu

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