08/27/2026
Yesterday, the Mississippi Public Health Institute had the honor of organizing the 2026 “Putting the Pieces Together” CHAMP for Moms Summit, bringing together more than 100 healthcare professionals from across Mississippi for an important conversation around perinatal substance use.
The Summit brought nurses, physicians, social workers, counselors, treatment professionals, family advocates and other partners together to learn, connect and consider how we can better support pregnant and postpartum women experiencing substance use with a focus on compassionate, family-centered care.
The CHAMP for Moms team brings together expertise in medicine, mental health, education, care coordination, peer support, research, and program management to provide resources, consultation, education, and connections to care for pregnant and postpartum women and the providers who serve them.
Please join us in recognizing:
* Emily Dossett, MD – Medical Director
* Courtney Walker, PhD – Clinical Director
* Sara Porter, MD – Education Coordinator
* Monica Daniels, PhD – Clinical Psychologist
* Calandrea Taylor, LPC-S – Project Director
* Rachel Tyrone, PhD – ECHO Coordinator
* Shealyn Salters, LMSW – Care Coordinator
* Carson Allen, MBA – Program Manager
* Brynn Rhoden, BA – Finance Manager
* Ashley Reiber – Certified Peer Support Specialist
* Anna Pham – Research Assistant
Together, this team is putting the pieces together to help create a more connected, compassionate, and coordinated system of care for Mississippi moms and their families. 💜🧩
A Summit like this does not happen because of one organization. It takes a village.
Thank you to our incredible speakers and partners:
• Sharon Hesseltine, Opioid Response Network
• Dr. Mishka Terplan, Friends Research Institute
• Utsav Nandi, UMMC
• Sabrina Alam, UMMC
• Brenda Foster, Mississippi State Department of Health
• Sean Couch, National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare – Family-Centered Systems Innovation Team
• Rachel Gilson, Fairland Treatment Center
• April Johnson, Hancock County Family Treatment Court
And thank you to our vendors and community partners who helped connect attendees with resources and support:
Mississippi Division of Medicaid • Maternal Health Innovation • Star Legacy Foundation • CHAMP for Moms • PSI MS Chapter • Catholic Charities/Born Free • Fairland Treatment Center/Lifeline • Mississippi TrueCare TrueCare
We are also incredibly grateful to the many people behind the scenes who helped bring the day to life:
Photographer: Mason Crowe
Videographer: Peartree Productions
Venue & Food: Embassy Suites Ridgeland
Graphic Design: Mirkat Designs
Florals: Mostly Martha's Florist and Gifts
Balloon Arch: Decorations Jireh Decoraciones_jireh
Continuing education was provided through the Mississippi Public Health Institute and Mississippi State Department of Health.
Thank you to everyone who showed up ready to learn, share, listen and be part of building a stronger system of support for Mississippi mothers and babies.
Putting the pieces together means recognizing that no single provider, program or organization can do this work alone. Together, we can build a more connected, compassionate and effective continuum of care for families across Mississippi.
