Transcript Faded Blue Jeans - UNC Center for Maternal & Infant Health

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 Development
Process, 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 Plan
1) 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