2. Educating the MCH Workforce on the Life Course Perspective Kathleen Brandert, MPH, CHES Brenda K. Thompson, MPH AMCHP Conference February 24, 2009

3. Objectives Define the Life Course Perspective (LCP) Understand how this framework plays out in real life Brainstorm opportunities and strategies for educating the MCH workforce

4. What is the Life Course Perspective? The Life Course Perspective suggests that a complex interplay of biological, behavioral, psychological, and social protective and risk factors contributes to health outcomes across the span of a person’s life. Looking at health through a life course perspective hopes to address three key areas: 1.Your health as a individual 2.Your health before your conception (i.e. your mom’s health pre-conception) 3.Your children’s health (intergenerational component).

5. Cumulative, Programming & Pathway Mechanisms Influence LCHD Three basic mechanisms influence LCHD –Cumulative - additive effect of multiple risks and protective factors, weathering (CHRONIC) –Programming - time specific influence of stimulus or insult during a critical or sensitive period on selection, adaptation, compensatory processes (ACUTE) –Pathways - chains of (eco-culturally constructed) linked exposures that create a constrained conduit of gene-environment transactions (MULTI-FACTORAL)

6. Further Information on the LCP CityMatCH 2008 Conference Materials: http://citymatch.org/conf_2008.php Contra Costa County Summary: http://www.cchealth.org/groups/fmch/pdf/life_course_fact_sheet.pdf

7. T HEORY EDUCATING the WORKFORCE P RACTICE

8. Contra Costa, CA: Changing the Way Staff Think About MCH 15-year initiative Engaging MCH Program and other county staff, as well as community partners Reducing health disparities overall Optimizing reproductive potential New way of working in MCH

9. Contra Costa, CA: Why Focus on Staff Knowledge and Buy-In To Make it Personal: What this paradigm shift means in concrete terms for staff in their specific jobs and programs To Make Change Happen: Lay the groundwork with higher level management about the importance of the Life Course Perspective

10. Time to Play the Game!

11. Brainstorm

12. Questions?