1. North Carolina Preconception Initiative

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. NC Strategic Plan Chapter 1: Background - The Case for Preconception Health, National Priority, State Initiatives, NCs History Chapter 2: Strategic Plan Development Process, Priority Areas, Data Review Chapter 3: Goals and Strategies

6. Vision This effort seeks to improve the health of women of childbearing age in North Carolina. Through a collaborative focus on womens wellness, North Carolina will improve the quality of life for women as well as the health of infants.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Next Steps Prioritize Work Group Strategies Move Forward with Action Steps Bring in Additional Partners Seek Funding Utilize Existing Resources

13. What is Needed ? Energy! Collaborative Will! Patience and Persistence! to improve the health of women, infants and families in North Carolina

14. 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, Womens Health Branch, NC Division of Public Health Sarah Verbiest, MSW, MPH, DrPH (candidate), Executive Director of the University of North Carolinas Center for Maternal and Infant Health Alvina Long Valentin, RN, MPH, Womens Health Network Supervisor, Womens Health Branch, NC Division of Public Health