June 2010 
Preconception Health and Health Care Update
 
Greetings
This is a monthly communication for individuals interested in improving the health of women and infants through preconception health and health care. We welcome your readership and contributions.
Prevention and Public Health Fund Allocations announced by DHHS HHS Secretary Sebelius
 
On June 18, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the allocation of $250 million in federal fiscal year (FY) 2010 for prevention from the new Prevention and Public Health Fund, created by the Affordable Care Act (aka health reform legislation).
 
These new funds are dedicated to four critical priorities: Community and Clinical Prevention; Public Health Infrastructure; Research and Tracking; and Public Health Training. 
  
A summary is below.  More information is available from the DHHS web site.
 
Community and Clinical Prevention ($126 million)
The initiative supports prevention activities to reduce health care costs and improve the promotion of health and wellness.  Most relevant to improving preconception health is the $74 million allocation for Putting Prevention to Work through federal, state and community initiatives to use evidence-based interventions to address tobacco control, obesity prevention, HIV-related health disparities, and better nutrition and physical activity. Other community and clinical prevention dollars are allocated to: Primary and Behavioral Health Integration ($20 million); Obesity Prevention and Fitness ($16 million): and Tobacco Cessation ($16 million).
 
Public Health Infrastructure ($70 million)
These funds are aimed at strengthening state and local capacity to prepare health departments to meet 21st century challenges through: Public Health Infrastructure ($50 million) and Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grants ($20 million).
 
Public Health Training ($23 million)
These funds are allocated for training of existing and next generation public health professionals, including: Public Health (CDC) Workforce ($8 million) and Public Health Training Centers ($15 million).
 
Research and Tracking (Preventive Services) ($31 million)
The initiative supports expansion of coverage for community and clinical preventive services by increasing resources for guidance and evaluation of preventive services.  These funds might be used to advance evidence-based community and clinical preventive services related to women's health and preconception care. 
  • Community Preventive Services Task Force ($5 million). Support efforts to identify and disseminate additional evidence-based recommendations on important public health decisions to inform policymakers, practitioners, and other decision makers.
  • Clinical Preventive Services Task Force ($5 million). Expand the development of recommendations for clinical preventive services, with enhanced transparency and public involvement in the processes of the Task Force.
  • Surveillance ($21 million). Fund data collection and analysis to measure the impact of health reform and support strategic planning.
President Obama previously announced plans to spend $250 million from the fund to support the training and development of primary care professionals who frequently deliver preventive services to patients. More than 90 organizations urged that these funds not be directed to these purposes. With this second release, Jeff Levi, Executive Director of Trust for America's Health stated: "We are pleased that the nearly $250 million will be devoted to the original intent of the Fund from among these categories. It is important to note that the Administration has indicated that the allocation of the $250 million for workforce is a one-time event."  
 
On June 10, the President signed an Executive Order creating the National Prevention Council.
Beyond Fathers' Day: Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes
 
Men play a key role in conception, pregnancy, and parenting. In preconception health, recommendations have long promoted reproductive health awareness among men and women of childbearing age. Recent publications provide more food for thought about paternal involvement in pregnant outcomes.  
 

Convened in 2009 by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the Commission on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes (CPIPO) is an interdisciplinary working group of scholars whose goal is to raise public awareness of the need for paternal involvement in pregnancy and family health. CPIPO's purpose is to improve paternal involvement in pregnancy and family health by reframing debates and informing research, policy and practice to support greater involvement of expectant fathers in pregnancy. 

 

Presented at a Capitol Hill briefing on May 20 and in a new report, CPIPO's recommendations are intended to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy outcomes by offering best and promising practices to address policy barriers and increase the involvement of men and expectant fathers in maternal and child health research and clinical practice.

 

The CPIPO report reminds us that: "Despite the fact that several historical trends have presented barriers for many men to fulfill their roles as providers and protectors of their families, men are still very important to MCH.... It is essential to provide fathers with the necessary tools to improve their involvement not only during pregnancy, but before, between, and beyond pregnancies."

 

For questions or press inquiries, please contact Betty Anne Williams . at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. The Joint Center is one of the nation's leading research and public policy institutions and the only one whose work focuses primarily on issues of particular concern to African Americans and other people of color.

 
Articles & Reports on Paternal Involvement

Amina P. Alio, Alred K. Mbah, Jennifer L. Kornosky, et al.  Assessing The Impact of Paternal Involvement on Racial /Ethnic Disparities in Infant Mortality Rates, Journal of Community Health, May 2010

 

Lu M, Jones L, Bond MJ, et al. Where is the F in MCH: Father Involvement in African American Families? Ethnicity & Disease. 2010: 20:S2-49-61.

 

CPIPO Commission Outlook: Best and Promising Practices for Improving Research, Policy and Practice on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes, May 2010.

 

Misra DP, Caldwell C, Young AA, et al. Do fathers matter? Paternal contributions to birth outcomes and racial disparities. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, February 2010.

 

Keith A. Frey, Shannon M. Navarro, Milton Kotelchuck, et al., The Clinical Content of Preconception Care: Preconception Care for MenAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, December 2008.

MCH Life Course Toolbox Released 
 

This month CityMatCH and Contra Costa Health Services Family Maternal and Child Health Programs (Contra Costa County, California) launched an online MCH Life Course Toolbox! The toolbox features life course resources, a discussion board, the Life Course Game, and Facilitator's Kit. 

 

The MCH Life Course Toolbox is an online resource for researchers, academics, practitioners, and others to share information, strategies, and tools to integrate the life course perspective into maternal and child health (MCH) work at the local, state, and national levels.  It evolved from the National MCH Life Course Meeting, which was convened in Oakland, CA on June 9-10, 2008. Through discussions and dialogue, meeting participants identified a number of strategies for future directions, one strategy was developing an MCH Life Course Toolbox.

 

Expand and enhance your life course approach to MCH. Check out the website, register to receive email updates, and post to the discussion board all at: www.citymatch.org/lifecoursetoolbox

 

This toolbox was made possible through a partnership with the California Endowment and funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 
life course tool logo
Issue: 15

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In This Issue
Prevention & Public Health Fund
Beyond Fathers' Day
Life Course Tool Kit
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH FUND 

The Prevention and Public Health Fund signals the commitment of Congress and the Obama Administration to preventing disease and promoting health.
 
The release of $250 million toward the purposes of the Prevention and Public Health Fund creates opportunities for public health leaders, researchers, and practictioners to improve the health of women, children, and families. 
 
Preconception health and health care is linked to the purposes of these funds.
 
Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative