Division of Women's Health Policy & Leadership

In December 2007, the ACNM Board of Directors formally placed The Division of Women's Health Policy & Leadership in inactive status. ACNM is now identifying and evaluating mechanisms for ACNM policy development.

Mission:

To improve the health of women at the community level through the development, implementation, and promotion of public policy and public information initiatives.

Leadership:

Division Chair: Lynn Ament
Policy and Evaluation Section: vacant
Networking Section: vacant
Leadership Section: Elaine Germano
Public Information Section: vacant
Ethics Section: Elizabeth Sharpe

I. Policy Development & Evaluation

Goals and Objectives:

1. Serve as a "think tank" to develop policies and make specific recommendations regarding policy issues to the ACNM Board of Directors.
2. Address policy issues identified by the ACNM Board of Directors.
3. Identify pertinent indicators that pertain to women's health in order to guide and prioritize policy development and evaluation.
4. Set goals pertinent to women's health and social policy (e.g., 2010 Objectives).
5. Evaluate policies that impact women's health.

First Year Charges

1. Identify a policy issues platform for approval by the ACNM Board of Directors
2. Identify one health policy area to evaluate.
3. Explore funding for evaluation activities and for database development.
4. Create an infrastructure to develop a data bank of existing health statistics and policies. (Idea: Develop an annual report "Women Counf similar to "KidsCount")

II. Policy Advocacy

Goals/Objectives

1. Definition of role: Take action on selected women's health public policy initiatives in a variety of arenas.
2. Identify advocacy needs and develop advocacy groups for selected issues.
3. Interface with the networking section, PEAC, and ACNM staff for implementation of advocacy strategies.
4. Become an information source to lobbying activities

Charges

1. Identify current advocacy issues.
2. Begin interfacing with other groups involved.
3. Identify state CM/CNM lobby

III. Networking Section

Defined networking: Building relationships with others with similar, but not the same interests, to learn more about what each other is up to. Promotes cooperation and collaboration towards an end or goal. Creates synergy's and serendipities. It's about discovery and connection and about building social capital.

Goals/Objectives

1. To strengthen the established relationships and create new relationships among the ACNM and women's health organizations, policy bodies and other organizations that affect women's health, public sector, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). (Strengthen interorganizational relationships.)
2. To facilitate networking among all official ACNM Representatives (an ongoing objective )
3. To develop and strengthen the capacity of the ACNM to be an organizational home for CNMs/CMs working in policy/agencies/non-clinical areas.
4. Enhance the capacity of CNMs/CMs and the organization to acquire positions of authority.

First Year Charges

1. Facilitate interaction of members with other organizations
2. Assess current status of formal and informal relationships with other organizations and identify gaps.
3. Identify sources of money and other opportunities to enhance or build relationships.
4. Make recommendations to other organizations to have ACNM participation. Recruit CNMs/CMs to be the reps.
5. Develop mechanisms for reporting and disseminating of information generated from the relationships with other organizations.
6. Collect data on/find CNMs/CMs working in state, Federal, local, Foundations, public health.
7. Reach out to those listed above with a gathering at the annual meeting, marketing the new division, establishing a "lunch buddy" program and conduct a survey of non-members to identify what they want/need that ACNM could provide (develop customer knowledge)

IV. Leadership Section

Definitions: Leadership -mobilizing people to tackle tough problems.

Goals/Objectives

1. Enhance the capacity of CNMs/CMs to acquire and use positions of authority through education for leadership and mentoring/support programs. (Policy Fellows, scholarship for policy study)
2. Create a culture of recognizing and valuing the work of CNMs/CMs in policy/arenas that are not practice focused.

First Year Charges

1. Conduct qualitative research into leadership development programs of other associations and professions.
2. Create a database of leadership education programs.
3. Create a database of possible mentors and support persons.
4. Place articles in the Journal about policy and policy work.
5. Develop a separate program or expand regional awards to include recognition of policy work.
6. Increase policy related sessions at the annual meeting, including sessions about doing policy work.

V. Emerging Issues & Developing Trends Section

Goals/Objectives

1. Identification and selection of emerging issues and trends in women's health.
2. Establish task force and recruit experts for selected issues.
   Task Force:
   a. Consolidate research and develop information packet.
   b. Develop an action plan.
   c. Direct public information initiatives for consumer materials.
   d. Direct policy development and analysis for policy paper.
3. Identify potential funding sources.
4. Program (the work of the task force) evaluation and recommendations.

First Year Charges

1. Review domestic violence as hoc status and come up with recommendations.
2. Identify and develop one further issue for focus through interactions with networking sections, policy development, staff and membership.

VI. Public Info Section

Goal/Objectives

1. Assess needs and demands for consumer information.
2. Create public information campaigns (develop strategies).
3. Explore funding sources.
4. Create guidelines for the review of all materials to ascertain if they reflect the philosophy, ethics and vision of ACNM.

First Year Charges

1. Network with ACNM Industry Council and related ACNM Divisions, e.g. DOSP.
2. Network with the leadership section of this division to develop expertise in this area.