written by Eliza Cole

Community Health Center, Inc. is pleased to announce that  Amy D. Gagliardi, from the prenatal program,  was selected to participate in  in the inaugural year of The National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health’s (NLAPH) leadership development initiative.

The NLAPH is an innovative approach to leadership development which brings together teams of leaders from multiple sectors to focus on improving health equity in their communities. NLAPH is implemented by the Center of Health Leadership and Practice (CHLP), a Center of the Public Health Institute (PHI), under funding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The Connecticut Department of Public Health was lead applicant for this project and the Connecticut team was one of 20 teams selected from across the United States to participate in this national program.

Connecticut’s team project – “Promoting Maternal and Infant Health in New London County” – facilitateda discussion among providers and other stakeholders in the county to addresses strategies related to improving birth outcomes and prenatal care.

Together the team produced The New London Maternal-Infant Resource Guide – a comprehensive, user friendly document which provides contact information for available maternal and child health resources within the county, including Healthy Start, WIC, Family Planning, Health Insurance, Case Management, Visiting Nurse Services, Hospital Classes and Services, Young Parent Services, Department of Social Services and more.

“At Community Health Center, Inc., where I have worked for many years in multiple aspects of prenatal care, we are committed to ensuring that pregnant women receive evidenced based, quality services which promote healthy behaviors during and after pregnancy.  Our service model consistently results in positive perinatal outcomes, such as low rates of preterm birth and low birth weight, and high rates of breastfeeding,” explained Amy Gagliardi. “I was honored   to be a part of the NLAPH’s inaugural year and lend my expertise to the project as well as gain leadership development and insights through educational opportunities and coach-team meetings offered through the Leadership Academy.”  Ms. Gagliardi also serves as Chair of the Woman’s Health Sub-Committee of the Council on Medical Assistance Program Oversight, which has been working on the development of strategies to improve birth outcomes for our state’s Medicaid population.

The project’s core team is comprised of key players from across the state.  Ms. Gagliardi was joined by Carol Stone, PhD, supervising epidemiologist for maternal and child health at the Connecticut Department of Public Health; Patrick McCormack, Director of Health at the Uncas Health District; and Nadine Fraser, MD, MPH, Manager of Community Health at the Connecticut Hospital Association.