Cultivating Community - Growing Collaboration: The 2023 All-Grantee Meeting

Nearly 300 EMSC grantees and partners gathered in Austin, TX, for the 2023 EMSC All-Grantee Meeting last month. This year’s theme, Cultivating Community - Growing Collaboration, emphasized the growth of EMSC initiatives and partners.

For the first time this year, the meeting welcomed grantees in the Pediatric Pandemic Network, an appropriation through Special Projects of Regional and National Significance, a separate funding mechanism than the authorization of the EMSC Program. Both PPN and EMSC fall under the oversight of and are part of the Health Resources and Services Administration EMSC Branch.

The meeting included more than 30 sessions and 70 speakers and session facilitators. Topics ranged from pediatric behavioral health to disaster preparedness. Pediatric readiness was also a key focus. Nilda Garcia, MD, FACS, of Dell Children’s Medical Center, and Alan Tyroch, MD, FACS, FCCM of Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, presented the opening session on the evolution of pediatric readiness in trauma care: “Power of Collaboration: The Dawn of a New Era in Trauma Care for Children.” There were also keynote presentations sharing the recent results of the National Pediatric Readiness Project (for emergency departments) and highlighting the upcoming first assessment for the National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project (for EMS agencies).

A special highlight on the last day of the conference was the inaugural Zac Johnston and Carter Mears Memorial Lecture in Family Centered-Care, featuring LaToshia Rouse CD/PCD(DONA), of Family Voices. The lecture honors the late sons of Family Advisory Network (FAN) representatives Julie Johnston, of Louisiana, and Kim Mears, of Indiana, who gave opening and closing remarks. Rouse’s presentation focused on care of children and young adults with special health care needs and the Family Engagement in Systems Assessment Toolkit.

Prior to the conference, the Pediatric Readiness Recognition Programs Collaborative kicked off in a preconference session with 51 states, territories and jurisdictions in attendance. This working session outlined the collaborative structure, introduced participants and facilitators, and began conversations on how to start and how to enhance pediatric recognition programs.

This year’s conference also held poster sessions. A total of 26 posters were presented in small groups, followed by Q&A sessions.

HRSA EMSC staff shared they were pleased to share in the three days of sessions and networking with both EMSC and PPN managers and more than 50 FAN representatives. They also were especially appreciative to be able to meet so many new members of both programs in-person.

Slides, poster presentations, federal partner updates, and photos are now available on the 2023 All-Grantee Meeting archive webpage.