Preventing Infant Mortality: the Development of a Statewide Preconception Health Plan Anna Bess Brown, MPH Amy Mullenix, MSPH, MSW Alvina Long Valentin, RN, MPH Sarah Verbiest, MPH, MSW

Why it Matters  Pregnancy is too late to change many behaviors and exposures that put the infant at risk  Pregnancy may unveil a woman’s risk for future disease and reproductive problems  Healthy women are more likely to have healthy babies – the life course perspective

Preconception Health History History of Preconception Leadership NC Folic Acid Campaign NC Medical Journal Infant Mortality Issue State Infant Mortality Collaborative ( ) examined infant mortality CDC’s Recommendations for Preconception Health and Health Care prompted response

Looking Back Moving Forward

Plan Development Assemble leadership team – including the new DPH preconception coordinator Collect and examine data Convene Think Tank mtgs Create vision statement and guiding principles Collect new ideas at Summit Choose areas of focus

Participants 75+ participants in Preconception Health Think Tank meetings including Dept. of Public Instruction local health departments public and private universities Division of Health & Human Services community-based organizations non-profit agencies consumers

Leadership Team

Data Collection Quantitative Qualitative Purpose Find the gaps Find focus Justify the cause Measure outcomes

Statewide Meetings March 2007 Think Tank Meeting #1 To initiate a focused, collaborative, comprehensive 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 To present priorities and focus areas

Vision Statement 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.

Guiding Principles Focus on the whole woman – not only her reproductive capacity Consider the woman’s health needs and related wellness recommendations within the context of her family and community Avoid messages that imply that certain women should or should not become mothers Prioritize programs with the potential to address health disparities Infuse community development and consumer leadership into each step of the plan

Next Steps Share information from Summit Conduct meeting December 2007 Convene Preconception Summit in January Finish Plan Get started with who and what we have!

Contact us Anna Bess Brown Amy Mullenix Alvina Long Valentin Sarah Verbiest