Year in Review
Top NICHQ Resources of 2025
We’re ending 2025 with a review of NICHQ’s top resources and achievements of the year. Thank you to our funders, partners, and supporters who joined us in creating and sharing tools and resources for healthcare providers, public health professionals, and community advocates, as well as caregivers and families.
Resources to Support Your Work
Ensuring Improved Health Outcomes for ALL Families
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back at all we’ve accomplished together. In preparation for 2026, we’re recapping some of our top resources and achievements that helped guide you throughout the year, including NICHQ articles and on-demand webinars focused on improving community health, transition of care, safe infant sleep, and more!
NICHQ INitiatives
Learn About NICHQ’s New Initiatives
2025 marked the inaugural year of two projects and the launch year of two more. These projects are dedicated to improving birth outcomes and respectful care practices and eliminating infant mortality and maternal mortality and morbidity.
We Welcomed 9 New Staff Members…
Arronoel Ashby-Rosellon
Shalonda Coleman, MSEd., CHES
D’Ondria Mullins
Jennifer Spadano-Gasbarro, PhD, LDN
Cynthia Grier
Gasia Oknayan, MPH
Toncé Jackson, Ed.D., MPH, RDN, CLE
Belicia Badibanga, MPH
Yuko Yadatsu-Ekyalongo, MPH
…and Put 9 in the Spotlight
Click on the image below to read the employee’s profile.
Publications
Improving Health Care Transition for Young Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Through Quality Network
JAMA NETWORK OPEN
Transitioning from pediatric to adult health care is crucial for the continuity of care for young adults with sickle cell disease. Among 5 pediatric hematology practices participating in the Florida Pediatric Hematology Learning and Action Network, 3 practices lacked transition programs before this quality improvement project.
Summary
NICHQ’s Florida Children’s Medical Services Learning and Action Network team recently contributed to a study that was published in JAMA. This publication evaluated the implementation of QI programs in five pediatric hematology practices to improve care for youth living with sickle cell disease and aid in the transition from pediatric to adult health care. The study found that collaboration among centers, sharing responsibilities across clinicians, identifying patients in advance using electronic health records and clinic-staff huddles, and having electronic readiness assessments and dot phrases were indicative of successful and sustained outcomes.
2025 Timeline
Notable Dates
This year was full of exciting achievements and in-person events.
NICHQ Insights
Reading List for 2025
At NICHQ, we are committed to creating and promoting new approaches for lasting systems change to improve maternal and child health. Check out our insights to learn how you can support this work.
NICHQ News
Stay in the Loop
Get information on observances like Breastfeeding Awareness Month and other NICHQ news delivered directly to your inbox.
Additional Resources
Keeping Our Babies Safe
Working Together to Reduce Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)
A New Era in Infant Survival
Recognizing the Value of Community-Centered Safe Sleep Initiatives
Kansas Community Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality
State Town Hall Meeting
Promoting Safe Infant Sleep
Relying on Communities’ Capabilities to Get the Word Out
The Dreamkeeper’s Light
The Importance of Storytelling in Infant Safe Sleep Messaging
Power to the People
Centering Families to Transform Maternal & Infant Health