Founded in 1983, the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH), was created to ensure maternal and child health had a consistent, informed presence in Michigan’s public policy process. Today, we operate as a member-led, nonprofit organization that develops and advances a shared statewide agenda. MCMCH brings together healthcare leaders, public agencies and community partners to shape policies that support Michigan’s quality of life—recognizing that the health of women, children, and families is fundamental to the strength of the state.
MCMCH advances policies that prioritize prevention and early intervention, address the full range of social, emotional, educational, and economic factors that influence health, and promote sustainable systems of care.
Through collaboration and shared expertise, our staff and members work together to develop comprehensive, evidence-informed solutions that improve maternal and child health outcomes statewide.
MCMCH’s members set the policy agenda. Our staff advances it. Members include healthcare systems, public health agencies, provider groups, advocates, and individuals working together to ensure Michigan’s maternal and child health policies reflect real community needs.
The Alix Foundation
Michigan Section, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Mott Children’s Health Center
School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan
Honor Community Health
Ingham County Health Department
Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute and the Office of Women’s Health, Wayne State University
Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health
Michigan Association of School Nurses
Michigan Breastfeeding Network
Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health
Michigan Primary Care Association
Michigan School Health Coordinators’ Association
Michigan State Medical Society
Northern Michigan Health Consortium
Nurse Administrators Forum
Washtenaw County Public Health
Zero to Thrive
Maternal-Newborn Nurse Professionals of Southeastern Michigan
Strategically working within walking distance of Michigan’s state Capitol building, our team sits at the helm of our members and partners who work every day to shape public policy so every woman, child, and family in our state can thrive.
Amy Zaagman leads the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health with strategic vision, deep policy expertise, and a passion for advancing equity and outcomes for families across the state. Born and raised in Michigan and the mother of two daughters, Amy brings both personal insight and professional rigor to her work, ensuring that the voices of providers, advocates, and communities inform meaningful policy change.
Since becoming Executive Director in 2009, Amy has guided MCMCH into its role as a respected voice to tackle Michigan’s most pressing maternal and child health challenges. Under her leadership, MCMCH has expanded its policy influence and elevated innovative work like the Birth Equity Education Project, centering lived experience in shaping statewide solutions. Amy’s approach to leadership is rooted in collaboration, evidence, and listening. She speaks regularly on maternal and child health issues, emphasizing the importance of data-informed advocacy and cross-sector partnership to improve maternal outcomes, reduce disparities, and strengthen preventive systems.
Before joining MCMCH, Amy served as Associate Director of the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards and was Chief of Staff to State Senator Beverly Hammerstrom. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Western Michigan University.
Ta’Sheena Williams serves as the Policy Director for the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH), where she stewards the organization’s state policy and advocacy efforts to advance maternal, infant, and early childhood health across Michigan. Her work focuses on translating data and lived experience into evidence-based policy solutions that inform legislative and budgetary decision-making.
In her role, Williams collaborates closely with parent leaders, statewide coalitions, advocates, healthcare providers, and state agencies to shape policy priorities and advance reforms related to maternal and infant health, Medicaid, and early childhood systems. In her previous role at MCMCH as a Birth Equity and Maternal Health Policy Specialist, she developed and led a mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) research project that centered the lived experiences of Black mothers across Michigan, generating insights that continue to inform maternal health policy and practice.
Her work embodies MCMCH’s commitment to elevating community experience alongside clinical expertise—ensuring that policies not only improve health outcomes but also advance respect, dignity, and equity. Ta’Sheena holds a master’s degree in Global Health from Michigan State University.
Jennifer Gorchow leads MCMCH’s communications and member engagement, ensuring the Council’s policy work is visible, coordinated, and effective statewide.
Since joining the organization in 2010, Jennifer has led the Council’s communications, membership coordination, and internal operations, supporting a statewide network of partners who rely on timely information, thoughtful engagement, and meaningful collaboration to advance maternal and child health policy.
Before coming to MCMCH, Jennifer served as Director of Meetings and Membership Services for the Michigan Association of Planning and coordinated statewide education programs for the Michigan Townships Association. Earlier in her career, she worked as a newspaper reporter, developing a strong foundation in clear, accurate storytelling—skills she now brings to MCMCH’s advocacy and outreach.
Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.
MCMCH’s Executive Board brings diverse expertise and leadership to guide the organization’s strategy, governance, and policy direction.
Christine Alix is President of the Alix Foundation, supporting work at the intersection of maternal and children’s wellbeing, health, and education in Michigan and beyond. She is an
advocate for birthing parents, investing in improved choice, respect and outcomes for families. Christine brings human-centered and qualitative research lens to all endeavors, drawing on her experience as a ethnographic researcher and Design Strategist, including for non-profits, financial institutions, top hospitals, grassroots organizations and Fortune 500 businesses, alike. Her approach is shaped by centering people’s lived experiences, particularly within complex systems. Christine holds a joint MBA and MA in Design Leadership from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), as well as a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a devoted parent to two young children.
Phillip Bergquist is the Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) and Michigan Community Health Network (MCHN). Phillip provides executive direction for the Association and affiliated Clinically Integrated Network including strategy, staff leadership, and resource management for a variety of supports and services to member organizations including value-based care delivery, health information technology, workforce, organizational resilience and sustainability, and government affairs and advocacy. Before serving as the Association’s CEO, Phillip held several healthcare leadership roles including as the Chief Operating Officer of MPCA, the Chief Operating Officer of Honor Community Health, a community health center serving the residents of Oakland County, MI, and as Manager of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
Terri Czerwinski brings more than 25 years of experience in school and community health as a registered nurse and school health leader. She is passionate about supporting the whole child and collaborates with schools and community partners across Southeastern Michigan to promote safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments. A dedicated trainer and advocate, Terri is a certified ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Master Trainer, a Behavior Threat Assessment and Management Coach and Trainer (CSTAG and MiBTAM), and a PREPaRE Workshops 1 and 2 trainer. Terri is a Past President of the Michigan Association of School Nurses (MASN). She continues to serve on its Board and contributes to statewide behavioral health and social-emotional learning initiatives, reflecting her ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.
Jennifer DeAnna, DO, FACOOG, FACOG is the Clinical Director for Child & Adolescent Health at Mott Children’s Health Center in Flint, Michigan. She provides leadership across clinical operations, quality improvement, and program development, partnering closely with multidisciplinary teams and community organizations to enhance patient access, strengthen care delivery, and expand community-based services for children and families. Dr. DeAnna is actively engaged in strategic planning and the implementation of innovative care models that promote equitable, high-quality pediatric care across both clinical and school-based settings. As a board‐certified OB‐GYN, improving maternal and child health outcomes has been a longstanding professional passion. She completed her medical education at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and her OB‐GYN residency at Henry Ford Genesys.
Dr. Gagleard serves as Chief Nursing Officer at Trinity Oakland. Dr. Gagleard strongly believes that nurses should advocate for their profession, patients, and scope of practice. Dr. Gagleard attributes her leadership development from practicing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist supporting evidence-based practice. Dr. Gagleard has had the opportunity to work in various nursing roles including clinical specialist, manager, service line VP, adjunct professor, CNO and is a RN for the Detroit Tigers (fun fact). During her career Dr. Gagleard has had the honor of being a strong patient and nursing practice advocate. She has had the opportunity to testify to the U.S. Congress as well as the Michigan State House and Senate. Dr. Gagleard currently serves as Executive Board Member of Michigan Organization of Nurse Leaders, is Board Chair for Michigan Council of Maternal Child Heath, and an active board member of Maternal Newborn Nurse Professionals, The Association of Women’s Health and Neonatal Nursing, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center Board of Directors, and the March of Dimes, and Care House of Oakland County.
Lisa Jo Gagliardi, MPA, EQC, is a child and adolescent health consultant. With nearly 20 years of experience in education and school health, she specializes in whole child initiatives, she proudly contracts as the Partnership Coordinator for the Michigan School Health Coordinators’ Association (MiSHCA). Prior, Lisa Jo distinguished herself as a Regional School Health Coordinator for 13 years, overseeing the Eastern UP and ten counties in northern-lower Michigan. Her extensive expertise encompasses training educators in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, the Michigan Model for Health™, Social Emotional Learning, Bullying and Peer Aggression prevention, Action-Based Learning, ACEs and Resilience, HIV and Sex Education, and more. She has directed numerous grant-funded programs, including School-Based Health Centers, SNAP-Education initiatives, counseling grants, physical education programs, and Farm to School initiatives.
Taryn Gal, MPH, CPH, MCHES (she/her) is the Executive Director at the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health (MOASH), where she has held various roles since 2011. During her time at MOASH, she has worked alongside youth to break down the siloed approach to adolescent sexual health, to effectively address all that intersects with sexual and reproductive health among young people in Michigan. Taryn has worked in the world of sexual health for over 20 years and, prior to her work at MOASH, worked as a sexuality educator, HIV test counselor, and research assistant in HIV-prevention curriculum development. Taryn holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan.
Cheryl Gibson Fountain, MD, FACOG is Medical Director of Clinical Decision Support at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with more than three decades of clinical experience in the Detroit area. Dr. Gibson Fountain is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and previously served as Chief of Staff at St. John Detroit Riverview Hospital. She has been appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Board of Medicine and serves on both the Michigan and CDC Maternal Mortality Review Committees. She is also the ACOG delegate to the American Medical Association. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University School of Medicine, Dr. Gibson Fountain is a lifelong Detroiter committed to advancing maternal and child health through clinical leadership, policy engagement, and mentorship.
Melissa Hahn is currently the Director of Family Health for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. Melissa has worked at HDNW for over 15 years in a variety of roles. She is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s Degree from Alma College and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Michigan State University. Before moving to Public Health Melissa worked as a Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum nurse at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital.
Sonia S. Hassan, M.D., MBA, is Associate Vice President at Wayne State University, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Founding Director of the Office of Women’s Health. She leads the SOS Maternity Network, a statewide initiative to reduce preeclampsia and preterm birth, the leading causes of maternal and infant mortality. She previously worked with the National Institutes of Health and has received multiple honors for her contributions to maternal and child health. Dr. Hassan has authored more than 400 publications and led research demonstrating an intervention that reduces preterm birth by 45%. She is Co-Chair of Michigan’s Mother Infant Health and Equity Collaborative. Dr. Hassan earned her degrees from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
Alissa Huth-Bocks, PhD, IMH-E® is Director of the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute and Professor of Psychology at Wayne State University. She is a clinical psychologist with expertise in infant and early childhood mental health. She has conducted numerous studies on early childhood development under conditions of risk and examined the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention practices. Dr. Huth-Bocks is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor by the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health and has served on numerous advisory boards including the Board of Directors for both the Michigan and Ohio Associations for Infant Mental Health. Her policy priorities are focused on funding mechanisms for the full spectrum of infant and early childhood mental health services, including in pediatric care settings.
Megan Knaus is the Director of Maternal Child Health at Honor Community Health, the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Oakland County. With a background in Public Health and Nursing, Megan has a deep commitment to improving access to affordable and quality healthcare and connecting individuals with the resources they need to support the continuum of care through the life course of maternal, newborn, child, adolescence and reproductive years. At Honor Community Health, Megan leads family planning and maternal/child health programming with the overall goal of improving health outcomes and empowering a patient-centered approach.
Vanessa Long is a school nurse consultant, who began her nursing career in 2003 at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, where she worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before transitioning to the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Although her professional path has expanded into school health, Vanessa remains deeply connected to her early roots in neonatal care and continues to care for the tiniest patient population as a contingent NICU nurse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vanessa shifted her focus to supporting school health systems, taking on the role of a COVID-19 Response Public Health School Nurse. In this capacity, she collaborated closely with local health departments and school districts to facilitate the safe return of students to in-person learning. Vanessa is an active board member of the Michigan Association of School Nurses (MASN), where she serves as Legislative Chair.
Dr. Maben-Feaster is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Michigan-Health. She serves as associate director of the Division of Women’s Health and
associate chief clinical officer of the Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. Deeply committed to advancing women’s health, she advocates for her patients and fellow OB/GYNs, striving to improve the quality and accessibility of care. Dr. Maben-Feaster is active in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology (ACOG), serving as the Michigan Section’s
representative to the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH). Her leadership and passion for maternal and child health make her a valued member of MCMCH, dedicated to driving positive change across Michigan.
Raised in Argentina, Peggy received her BSN from the University of Michigan and earned a Masters degree in Health Administration. She has served as Program Director for Strong Beginnings since 2004, a community partnership working to improve health among Blacks and Latine in Kent County, and eight years as the Maternal Infant Health Coordinator for three urban clinics. The previous 25 years were spent as Medical Officer for Peace Corps and as consultant for maternal-child health organizations in Central America, Bangladesh, and West Africa. She developed programs to train Community Health Workers and Traditional Birth Attendants. She serves on local and national coalitions and co-chairs an 85-member consortium working to eliminate disparities in birth outcomes with a focus on racial equity and community engagement.
Sally Meyer has over 28 years of experience in administering local, state and federally sponsored public health projects and programs. She has worked on numerous projects in substance abuse prevention, suicide prevention, violence prevention, smoking cessation, birth defects, newborn hearing screening, genomics, reproductive health, oral health, vision and hearing screening, infant health, lead prevention and intervention, immunizations, and breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostics, in a variety of settings including a public health institute, a community-based organization, three local public health departments, two state public health departments, and four university-based research centers. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Maternal and Child Health Division at the Ingham County Health Department which includes Child Death Review, Fetal Infant Mortality Review, Region 7 Perinatal Quality Collaborative, Nurse Family Partnership, Family Outreach Services, Maternal Infant Health Program, Child Lead, Vision and Hearing, Children’s Special Health Care Services, and Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota in the area of Community Health Education.
Jennifer Peterman is the Manager of Maternal and Infant Health Community Programs at Corewell Health West Michigan, overseeing evidence‑based home‑visiting services for Medicaid‑insured, high‑risk pregnant and postpartum individuals and also directs prenatal education, breastfeeding support groups, and additional support services, In sum, she leads a team of licensed health professionals focused on improving outcomes, advancing equity, and reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.
With 17 years of experience as a rural home visitor, Registered Dietitian, and International Board‑Certified Lactation Consultant—along with more than a decade in leadership—Jennifer is committed to ensuring high‑risk clients receive comprehensive social, physical and mental health support.
Dr. Danie Rice, LMSW, IMH-E, is the Co-Executive Director of the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. She specializes in infant and early childhood mental health, reflective practice, and workforce development. Her work advances equity in perinatal
and infant mental health systems, with an emphasis on culturally responsive approaches that honor the experiences of historically marginalized providers and families. She leads trainings and healing-centered initiatives that promote sustainability, connection, and psychological safety.
Nifiah Reid-Sanders, MSA, BSN, RN is the Director of Nursing for Public and Community Health Services at the Washtenaw County Health Department, bringing over 20 years of nursing experience to her role. She is deeply committed to advancing public health through innovative, family-centered programs that support community well-being. Nifiah is passionate about serving and advocating for diverse and marginalized populations, and she collaborates closely with a wide range of community organizations, committees, and boards to strengthen health outcomes across the region. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys creating new plant-based recipes, traveling, running, and spending quality time with her family.
Shannon McKenney Shubert, MPH, CLC, CBS is a public health leader committed to justice in environmental and reproductive health. She has served the Michigan Breastfeeding Network since 2015 and as Executive Director since 2018. Her work centers on dismantling oppressive systems and cultivating accountable leadership among white women. She sets strategic vision, builds coalitions, expands funding partnerships, and works to ensure human milk feeding advocates are equitably compensated and structurally supported. Her work focuses on shifting systems, aligning internal practice with core values, and growing a statewide movement for breastfeeding justice. Shannon lives in Wyandotte with her husband and children.
Christie Wilkewitz is a healthcare leader and consultant with 20+ years of experience supporting school-based, pediatric, and community health. She’s led large, multi-site care teams, partnered across Michigan to elevate youth voice, and helped secure millions in funding to expand access and equity for children and teens. She holds dual master’s degrees in Public Health and Health Promotion. Known for her practical, roll-up-your-sleeves approach, Christie has a knack for turning big ideas into real-world solutions—from strengthening Medicaid billing to building partnerships that actually work. Today, she advises health centers, nonprofits, and public agencies on sustainable strategy and systems change. She’s been recognized with the MHA Ludwig Award for Innovation, HFHS Diversity Hero, and as a Baldrige Award Team Leader—and still leads with heart in everything she does.