Cheri Pies, MSW, DrPH

1
Developing and Implementing Teaching Tools for
Students and Health Department Employees on
Preconception Health

• Cheri Pies, MSW, DrPH
• Family, Maternal and Child
• Health Programs
• Contra Costa Health Services
• Preconception Care Summit
• October 30, 2007

2
Overview

• Preparing Public Health professionals Questions
  to consider
• Life Course Game
• Tools for Public Health students
• Approaches with Health Department staff
• Discussion Questions

3
Questions to Consider

• What should we be doing differently in our MCH
  courses and other SPH courses to train students
  on this perspective?
• What steps need to be taken to train staff in the
  field about preconception health and the life
  course perspective?

4
Life Course Game
5
Processing Questions

• What happened in your group?
• If you were in the lead in the game, how did that
  make you feel?
• If you were falling behind, how did that make you
  feel?
• What does this game tell us about the lives of
  our clients?
• What issues/concepts does the game help
  illustrate?

6
Teaching Public Health Students

• Maternal and Child Health Core Course Objective
• Discuss new approaches in the field of MCH that
  suggest that disparities in birth outcomes are
  the consequence of differential exposures not
  only during pregnancy but across the span of a
  persons life.

7
Teaching Public Health Students

• Focus on the practical aspects of this paradigm
  shift
• Use of literature beyond traditional journal
  articles Mountains Beyond Mountains, The Spirit
  Catches You When You Fall Down
• Incorporate Life Course Perspective into all
  topics oral health, adolescent health, MCH
  nutrition, access to care

8
Teaching Health Department Staff

• Conducting interactive educational activities at
  staff meetings
• Explaining Lu et. al. 12-Point Plan
• Engaging staff in identifying current and future
  activities that fit within 12-Point Plan
• Enabling staff to each have their own A-ha!
  moment

9
Teaching Health Department Staff

• Focusing on what this paradigm shift means in
  concrete terms for them in their specific jobs
  and programs - making it personal
• Laying the groundwork with higher level
  management in our organization about the
  importance of preconception health and the Life
  Course Perspective to make change happen

10
Discussion Questions

• What should we be doing differently in our MCH
  courses and other SPH courses to train students
  on this perspective?
• What steps need to be taken to train staff in the
  field about preconception health and the life
  course perspective?