MCH Steering Committee Minutes
Members present:
Michelle Gorelow, March of Dimes
Theresa Chevalier, FirstMed
Dr. Rutu Ezhuthachan, United Healthcare
Melanie Kauffman, Family TIES
Elizabeth Arbogast, MCH Coalition
AGENDA ITEM
Date:
Holly Lyman, Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican
Christi Mackie, Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health
Regina Washington, REMSA, Cribs for Kids, Co-Chair
Julieta Mendoza, Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada
DISCUSSION SUMMARY
Welcome &
Introductions
Meeting called to order at 12:01 p.m. Elizabeth
welcomed everyone and asked for introductions.
Approve Minutes of
10/23/13
Open Announcements /
Informational Items
Minutes were sent to all Steering Committee
members for review at their convenience.
Michelle announced March of Dimes will honor
Assemblyman Justin Jones for his legislative work
in 2013. Event will take place at Sunrise Hospital
Auditorium, begins at 9am on January 25th, and
will be followed by NICU tours. Please contact
Michelle to attend.
Commitment from
Steering Committee
Membership
January 22, 2014 – 12-1pm
Coalition staff changes were announced.
Elizabeth is now Coalition Coordinator and will be
the sole staff member for the coalition. Holly
Lyman will stay on as a Steering Committee
member and will oversee staff activities.
The Coalition asked for the following
commitment from all Steering Committee
members:
 Participation in 4 quarterly
teleconference calls for the Steering
Committee members only.
 Attend 2 coalition meetings (entire
membership) in April & October
 Attend in-person 1 Coalition Advocacy
Training (will be scheduled for late
summer and available in Northern and
Southern Nevada)
 Help to identify and engage new
members for the coalition
 Represent the coalition if given the
opportunity during media interviews and
other community meetings
FURTHER ACTION NEEDED
X

Meeting Structure
Membership with a regional coalition
(MCH Coalition of Northern Nevada,
Southern Nevada MCH Coalition)
MCH Spring Symposium
 To take the place of the April coalition
meeting.
 April 30th; 8am-3pm at the InNEVation
center in Las Vegas
 Entire symposium will be live-streamed
an available for viewing online.
 Will also be recorded and available on the
Coalition site going forward
 Steering Committee members asked for
speaker suggestions
o Holly suggested Annette Magnus
from ProgressNow Nevada
o Melanie Kauffman offered to
have a representative from
Family TIES speak
o Theresa emailed a suggestion for
Madeleine Grant to speak re:
breastfeeding in Nevada
Access to Care Webinar
 Held quarterly
 Featuring member organizations/efforts
centered around enrollment in a health
plan
 Will also feature an update on enrollment
activity in Nevada through Medicaid and
Nevada Health Link
 Steering Committee members were asked
for suggestions to enhance
o Holly shared that Nevada Health
Link had fixed the online
application for Medicaid, which
should cut the processing time
down dramatically
o It was suggested that Melanie
speak on the webinar about the
experience that Family TIES has
had with enrolling clients in a
health plan
Nevada Health Conference
 Coalition suggested holding the October
meeting over the Nevada Health
Conference again this year, but expanding
to offer CEs as well. Christi shared that
the conference may only feature
immunizations this year and she will keep
us updated on the progress of conference
planning. Coalition staff will also stay in
close contact with Immunize Nevada to
see if this is a possibility.
Advocacy Trainings for
2014
Communication
Leadership Retreat
 Coalition asked members to comment on
the possibility of an in-person, day long
leadership retreat for Steering Committee
members
 Travel was not possible for some
members in Southern Nevada, but
seemed to be a possibility for Northern
Nevada members
 Dr. E shared that her experience with a
retreat for Board members of a coalitions
has been very positive and would be a
great opportunity for the MCH Coalition
 Staff will send out possible dates in
summertime to meeting in Las Vegas
 Most likely held at the InNEVation Center
 Will discuss mission/vision/goals and
strategic planning
 Goal to build membership and public
capacity to advocate and awareness of
legislative issues impacting the maternal
and child population of Nevada.
 Open to all membership and public
 Held in August to allow for submission of
additional bills following
 Available on different dates in Northern
and Southern Nevada
 Partner with ProgressNow Nevada –
curriculum already written
 Would also like to look into hosting teen
trainings in January of 2015 in
partnership with the Nevada Youth
Legislature.
Membership Newsletter
 Goes out via Constant Contact every
two weeks
 Staff written content
 Asked Steering Committee members
to contribute to content by sharing
upcoming resources, events and
information pertaining to health
related issues impacting the maternal
and child population of Nevada. Any
suggestions can be emailed to
Elizabeth for inclusion in the
newsletter, on the website and
through social media.
Website
 Current resource structure needs
revamping to provide more accessible
resources
 Update to include educational
opportunities for
providers/public/etc. through
recorded webinars/trainings/public
documentaries from PBS, Khan
Academy, etc.
 Goal to ‘blog’/post news stories on a
weekly basis (may mirror member
newsletter)
 Provide meeting minutes for Coalition
and regional coalition meetings
March of Dimes Grant
Submission
Next Meeting
Social Media
 Big push for social media this year
 Will post event information
throughout Nevada
 Resources shared
 News information
 Legislative session tracking
The Coalition has submitted a grant
application for the March of Dimes Chapter
Grant opportunity. The proposed project is
centered on an increase in enrollment of
text4baby in Nevada through unique
marketing techniques and partnerships. A
project overview is attached.
Regardless of funding decision, staff will work
to accomplish the goal of the project,
including initiating new relationships with
unique organizations and expansion of the
WIC Linkage project in partnership with the
Southern Nevada Immunization and Health
Coalition (SNIHC).
Wednesday, April 24, 12-1pm
Teleconference
Toll free dial-in number: 1.877.402.9753
Conference Code: 8877739