Leaders in maternal and child health need to be created, nurtured and sustained. Toward that end, the MCH Section Enrichment Fund was created in 2008 to help create a stable and consistent funding source to help support the Section’s Student Leadership Program and other special projects approved by the Section leadership. The Program, which consists of the MCH Student Fellows and the MCH Outstanding Student Papers Session, is designed to promote student leadership in maternal and child health and engage students in the work of the MCH Section.

Each year, the Section selects 10-12 Student Fellows and five Student Authors to participate in this highly successful program. The Section supports these outstanding students with financial assistance, which varies depending on funding availability, to offset the costs of attending the APHA Annual Meeting.  In 2009, the Section also will provide partial support to Student Fellows for attendance at the MCH Section Mid-Year Meeting.

Last year the Section raised over $3,000 thanks to the generous contributions of its members. Longtime Section Member Glen Bartlett matched member contributions, and the Section is seeking similar Challenge Grants to the fund in 2009. This year the Section hopes to raise even more. All contributions are tax deductible.

To donate, please send a check or money order payable to “APHA - MCH Enrichment Account #328072” to MCH Section Secretary Karen VanLandeghem at:  537 S. Mitchell Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL  60005. Funds will be recorded and forwarded to APHA for deposit into the MCH Enrichment Account.  Additional information about the Fund can be found on the MCH Section’s Web site at:  http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/aphasections/mch/.