Happy Valentine’s Day! Welcome to our up-coming series on the 2012 Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Annual Conference! Over a dozen students here in Washington D.C. have represented Minnesota’s MCH program. If you did not have the opportunity to attend, stop on by to hear about participants’ experiences. Today is the last day of this MCH-focused meeting.

As attendees, we went to power workshops and skills-building sessions in between catching-up with one another. We networked, talking to influential leaders in our field and building relationships with alumni, MCH workers from Minnesota, and leaders from around the nation. Some of us are trying to get our name out there and learn of possible opportunities before us as we near graduation. Others explored national issues for the first time, focusing on how various state agencies are addressing MCH Competencies.

Come back for pictures in the coming days, as well as reflections from students who attended in the conference. We look forward to using our new knowledge to teach others and create change in the field.

In celebration of Valentines’ Day, give your heart some love today. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in all males and females. Take some time to get your blood pressure checked and urge your family, friends and co-workers to do the same.