North Carolina Preconception Initiative

NC Preconception Initiative

• Preconception Health Leadership Team comprised of representatives from UNC, DPH, March of Dimes and Folic Acid Council

• 75 participants in Preconception Health Thinktank meetings

• Participants include representatives from DPI, local health departments, public and private universities, DHHS, community based organizations, non-profit agencies and consumers

• Preconception Health Initiative Minutes and other pertinent information are posted on mombaby.org

Planning Steps

March 2007 Think Tank Meeting #1 To initiate a collaborative process to create a state Preconception Action

Plan

May 2007 Think Tank Meeting #2 To collect diverse ideas and understand

how preconception fits into existing work

August 2007 Think Tank Meeting #3 Presentation of qualitative and

quantitative data and prioritizing focus

Planning Steps

December 2007 Think Tank Meeting #4 Moving forward with work groups

Initial work group meetings for Pregnancy Intendedness and Women and Overweight/Obesity and Related Conditions

January 2008 – present Work groups meet monthly - working

on strategies, objectives, potential partners

NC Strategic Plan

Chapter 1: Background - The Case for Preconception Health, National Priority, State Initiatives, NC’s History

Chapter 2: Strategic Plan DevelopmentProcess, Priority Areas, Data Review

Chapter 3: Goals and Strategies

Vision

This effort seeks to improve the health of women of childbearing age in North Carolina.

Through a collaborative focus on women’s wellness, North Carolina will improve the quality of life for women as well as the health of infants.

NC Strategic Plan1) Increase Consumer and Community

Awareness about Preconception Health

2) Ensure Quality Preconception Care and Practice among Health Care Providers and Community Outreach Workers

3) Expand Access and Affordability of Preconception Care

4) Advocate for Environmental and Policy Changes that Support Preconception Health

Goals Increase awareness of importance of

wellness and preconception health behaviors for men and women in their reproductive years, particularly among minority populations

Initial emphasis on reproductive life planning and healthy weight

Goals

Promote provider/community health worker practice of assessing and counseling about preconception health, including reproductive life planning and healthy weight

Includes training in referral for services, cultural competency, and ability to counsel women with chronic conditions about effective family planning methods

Goals Increase access to care for high risk

women who have had a previous high risk pregnancy, previous poor birth outcome or who have a chronic medical condition, particularly for women of minority populations

Involves decreasing barriers to care, availability of coverage, methods for family planning and utilization of primary care services

Goals Advocate for increased support for

healthier living including improved access to healthy food systems on a neighborhood level

Increase supply and demand for environments that support healthy living by low income populations, including improving access to more fruits and vegetables

Increase workplace economic and social support for pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding

Next Steps

Prioritize Work Group Strategies

Move Forward with Action Steps

Bring in Additional Partners

Seek Funding

Utilize Existing Resources

What is Needed ?Energy!

Collaborative Will!

Patience and Persistence!

to improve the health of women, infants and families in North Carolina

Thank You for Your Support !The NC Leadership Team

Anna Bess Brown, MPH, State Program Director, March of Dimes

Amy Mullenix, MSW, MSPH, State Coordinator, NC Folic Acid Campaign

Cindy Haynes Morgan, MSA-PA, BS HEd, RHEd, Education and Community Program Coordinator, Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch, NC Division of Public Health

Judy Ruffin, MPA, Program Manager, Women’s Health Branch, NC Division of Public Health

Sarah Verbiest, MSW, MPH, DrPH (candidate), Executive Director of the

University of North Carolina’s Center for Maternal and Infant Health

Alvina Long Valentin, RN, MPH, Women’s Health Network Supervisor, Women’s Health Branch, NC Division of Public Health