Welcome and Breakfast Conversations

Facilitator/Speaker: Dr. Talya Straughter, DPC, LPC

Focus: Loving ourselves and owning our story

“Cultivating calm and stillness for everyday Living”

Description: In today's fast paced world, stress has become commonplace - a by-product of the loud and overcrowded world we live in. As a result, many people, mothers, and their families are making it a priority to slow down and focus on their mental health and wellness. And a big part of that is managing stress. 

Objective: Participants will be able to discuss the cycle of burnout and self-care and interrupt that cycle to create balance and well-being. 

Objective: Participants will be able to identify the barriers to health and healing and apply "healing mind" principles to get unstuck and move toward greatness and success.

Opening Remarks and Consortium/Partner Recognitions

Marinelle Payton , MD, PhD, MPH 
PI/Director, JSU Center of Excellence
Revitalizing the COE to Collaborate w MCH Initiatives

Mohammad Shahbazi, PhD, MPH
Retired, Visionary Scholar & Former Dean

The Vision: Establishing a JSU Breastfeeding Excellence Center -  The BEH MCH Initiative

Moderator: Chizoba Anyimukwu, DrPH, MPH

Focus: Achieving MCH Health Equity

"Breastfeeding and Early Nutrition Excellence: Mississippi Successes and Challenges for Achieving Health Equity"

Description: Breastfeeding rates have persistently been lower in the South. We have worked with a three-pronged methodology that involved (1) a grass-roots community-based approach to share and disseminate information and resources; (2) Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFUSA) to impact policy and training of health care providers and (3) impacting the knowledge, skills and attitudes of academia, public health providers and leadership, through Interdisciplinary Professional Education (IPE).  

Our intention is to create a viable way to reach priority audiences, to motivate a shift in social norms to normalize breastfeeding for African American mothers and families particularly in the South, and throughout the country to achieve health equity through breastfeeding.

Moderator: Angela Omondi, DrPH, MPH

Focus: Health care professionals discuss Pre- and Post-natal care services in Mississippi

Kimberly Ramsey, MHA
Lactation Consultants
Mississippi State Department of Health

Nakeitra Burse, DrPH, CHES    Doulas
CEO, Sixth Dimensions, LLC

TBD Speaker: CHWs/Midwife

Description: Health care professionals will discuss their roles in providing support services for MomNBaby Excellence with breastfeeding and early nutrition.

Focus: Mind, Body, & Spirit Moments

Facilitator: Dr. Talya Straughter, DPC, LPC

“Waiting to EXHALE or BREATHE IN and EXHALE”

Description: The morning break session will re-focus in on cultivating daily calm and stillness in a fast-paced world full of chatter and noise….finding your calm….

Moderator: Russell Bennett, PhD, MPH, RN

Focus:  MomNBaby Hospital Perspectives

Speaker: Lindsey P. Robertson, RN, CLC, Baby-Friendly Team Lead
Anderson Regional Hospital System

“Becoming a Baby-Friendly Hospital and What it Means”

Description: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to recognize hospitals that offer an optimal level of care for mothers and their babies. Baby-Friendly hospitals educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding, provide outstanding maternity care, and achieve excellent infant feeding outcomes and mother/baby bonding.

Moderator: Toni Hill, Lay Midwife and Doula

Focus: Mississippi Granny Midwives Exhibit: Historical Perspective

Speaker:  Alferdteen Harrison, M.D.

Harrison, Alferdteen | Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity (ku.edu)

Description: Dr. Harrison delivers a historical perspective on Midwives in Mississippi: An Exhibit scheduled to open in June 2022

Moderator: Dudith Pierre-Victor, PhD, MPH

Focus: MomNBaby Hospital Experiences

Speakers: 

"I am Mom" Emeryle Milton 

"I am Mom" Heather Denne

"MomNBaby Matters"

Description: Speakers will present first-hand accounts (successes and challenges) of their personal experiences with delivery and post-partum care at selected Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in Mississippi.

Moderator: Sheila McKinney, PhD, MA, CHES

Focus: HRSA Maternal & Child Health Bureau and the Bigger Picture

“Breast-Feeding in African American Communities: Biology, Immunology and Population-Level Impacts”

Description: Breastfeeding is the principal source of nutrition for infants. However, the role of breastfeeding in maternal and infant survival and health extends beyond nutrition.  Breastfeeding plays a key role in extensive infant defenses against infectious and environmental threats, and in maternal health.  Nationally, associations among state-level racial disparities in poverty, resources for families, breastfeeding, and infant survival suggest potential population-level impacts of increasing breastfeeding in elimination of disparities.

Moderator: Dr. Dudith Pierre-Victor, PhD, MPH

Focus:  Transitioning from Hospital to Home (H to H)

Speaker:  Chelesa Presley, CLC, Doula , CHW

“Holistic Home Visits and More”

Description: Going home with a “new” baby poses numerous challenges for a “mom” and other family member. Each speaker will discuss the emotional, spiritual, social, and economic needs associated with postpartum care and support. They will also identify services available for MomNBabyEXCEL!

Moderator: Chizoba Anyimukwu

Focus:  Transitioning from Hospital to Home (H to H)

Speaker: Sheila McKinney

"Case Management Conversations"

Description: Going home with a “new” baby poses numerous challenges for a “mom” and other family member. Each speaker will discuss the emotional, spiritual, social, and economic needs associated with postpartum care and support. They will also identify services available for MomNBabyEXCEL!

Moderator: Chizoba Anyimukwu, DrPH, MPH

Focus: Interdisciplinary Approaches for MomNBabyEXCEL: Research, Policies, and Practice

Speaker: Nelson Atehortua, MD, PhD, MPH

"Research, Policies and  Practices to Enhance MomNBabyEXCEL Breastfeeding and Early Nutrition"

Conference Evaluation & Certificates of Participation

The Needs Assessment Survey for Mississippi Women (Eligible if you are a Mississippi resident)