CDCFoundation 2d ago

In this month's partner call, participants learned about disparities in breastfeeding initiation, the barriers families face in meeting their breastfeeding goals and innovative state and federal partnerships and programs to ensure breastfeeding support is available to all families. Panelists included Sanaa Akbarali, MPH, PMP, Senior Director, Maternal and Child Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and Erin Van Denburgh, MS, Program Administrator, New York State Department of Health. Sanaa Akbarali, MPH, currently serves as the Senior Director of Maternal and Child Health at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) where she leads a diverse portfolio of initiatives focused on advancing maternal and child health policy nationwide. She partners closely with state and territorial health agencies(S/THAs) to provide strategic guidance and technical assistance that supports the development and implementation of evidence-based policies and programs. Her work spans multi-state initiatives and learning communities, with a focus on translating research into actionable policy solutions across areas including perinatal behavioral health, early life nutrition, contraception access, adolescent health, and risk-appropriate care. Sanaa holds a Master of Public Health from George Washington University. Erin Van Denburgh, MS, is a Program Administrator at the New York State Department of Health within the Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention. She holds a Master of Science in Organization Management from Sage College in Albany, NY. In her role, Erin works to support public health initiatives across the state, with a focus on promoting equitable access to maternal and child health resources.