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PCHHC Newsletter
January 2013 
Happy New Year!
 
Welcome to the first 2013 issue of the PCHHC Newsletter.  We hope everyone had a safe, happy holiday season and we wish you all a wonderful and productive new year.  
 
This month we are pleased to share information about two interesting projects, a study on contraceptive choice and access in St. Louis and a public health campaign to improve infant health in Texas, as well as a new Journal Issue focused on preconception health. We also are pleased to offer a preview of the highlights of the National Preconception Health and Health Care Strategic plan. As always, we welcome new partners to join with us in this work. 
 
This newsletter will be followed by a special issue in February to showcase the launch of the upcoming Show Your Love social marketing campaign.  Stay tuned! 
American Journal of Health Promotion Special Issue on Preconception Health   

The AJHP Special Issue on preconception health, available here, features commentaries and original research on a very diverse group of topics within preconception health.  Studies come from around the US and include discussions on implementation of interconception care, health messaging and consumer perceptions of preconception health, strategies to reach specific groups such as Latinas and American Indian women, and more. An accompanying webinar on Effective Strategies for Promoting Preconception Health will be held on January 30th - details and registration link are in the sidebar.  
Strategic Plan
 
The PCHHC Initiative's strategic plan for 2012-2014 was developed with input from national experts and workgroup members from across the country. Already in action, this plan is being used to guide activity and build collaboration. The complete plan will be released shortly pending a final clearance review. But to start the New Year off right, we wanted to provide you with an overview of the work group objectives and some example strategies from the plan.  
 
Consumer Work Group
Objective 1: Increase preconception knowledge, awareness, and behavior among women of childbearing age
KEY STRATEGY: Develop, implement and evaluate a preconception health social marketing campaign
 
Clinical Work Group 
Objective 1: Arm providers with tools which encourage inclusion of preconception health promotion into the routine care of all women of reproductive age
Objective 2: Measure impact of incorporating preconception care into routine well-woman preventive care visits
Objective 3: Provide clinicians with the knowledge, skills and content needed to advance evidence-based postpartum visits and interconception care
KEY STRATEGY: Develop, implement and evaluate a preconception toolkit for providers
  
Public Health Work Group
Objective 1: Reduce chronic disease and improve preconception health among women of childbearing age
Objective 2: Support the development of the PCHHC Resource Center and enhance the quality and relevancy of public health program information available
Objective 3: Describe the application of the Life Course Approach to Preconception Health
KEY STRATEGY: Advance collaboration between MCH and chronic disease prevention agencies around preconception health
 
Research and Surveillance Work Group
Objective 1: Develop the vision, framework, goals, and objectives for this Work Group
Objective 2: Develop a research and evaluation agenda that focuses on preconception health and includes perspectives of life course, social determinants of health, and health equity
Objective 3: Enhance and expand the use of existing surveys and surveillance systems
KEY STRATEGY: Promote awareness and use of core preconception indicator set
 
Policy and Finance
Objective 1: Support and advance implementation of coverage for women's clinical preventive benefits, including preconception care in well-woman visits
Objective 2: Improve and expand implementation of interconception care policies, programs, and services
Objective 3: Support continued investment in preconception health and health care
KEY STRATEGY: Advance primary care capacity to deliver well-woman visits and pre- and interconception care
Contraceptive CHOICE Project

The mission of the CHOICE Project was to remove the financial barriers to contraception, promote the most effective methods of birth control, and reduce unintended pregnancy in the St. Louis area.  Five years later, this study has produced amazing results, and a number of fascinating videos and publications.  Preventing Unintended Pregnancies by Providing No-Cost Contraception is a seminal article from this project, outlining key methods and results.  We highly recommend taking a minute to watch the video below - it is a great visual overview of the project background and research results. 
 
Pathway to CHOICE
Pathway to CHOICE

Someday Starts Now

 

Someday Starts Now is the public campaign of the Healthy Texas Babies initiative, led by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The program's goal is to reduce infant mortality in Texas. With support from local communities, health care providers and other stakeholders, Healthy Texas Babies envisions a day when every Texas baby has a healthy, happy first birthday.  Healthy Texas Babies programs include:

  • Evidence-based interventions led by local coalitions in communities statewide
  • Communications campaigns to raise public awareness
  • Efforts to address disparities in infant mortality among different ethnic groups
  • Provider education and support for clinical decision-making

Healthy Texas Babies encourages the public to learn more by exploring the information and resource links throughout this website. Help make pregnancies healthier and babies stronger.

For a more detailed description of Healthy Texas Babies programs and coalitions, please visit DSHS Healthy Texas Babies.


The written description above is from the About Us section of the Someday Starts Now website.

About the Newsletter 

Thanks for reading!  
 
Is your organization doing exciting work to promote preconception health?  We would love to feature you in an upcoming newsletter!  Please email pchhcnews@gmail.com for details.  
 
As of August 2012, this newsletter is hosted by a new account.  If you have a link to subscribe to the newsletter on your website and would like to request an updated link, or have any other questions about the newsletter, please email pchhcnews@gmail.com.    


In This Issue
AJHP Preconception Issue
The Strategic Plan
Contraceptive CHOICE Project
Someday Starts Now
AJHP Webinar

Effective Strategies for Promoting Preconception Health - From Research to Practice   

Wednesday, January 30th from 1-2 p.m. EST.

Register here

 

Newsletter
This e-newsletter is archived.  Find back issues of the newsletter and more information about improving preconception health and health care here.