Post on 22-Dec-2015
Educating the MCH Workforce on the Life Course Perspective
Kathleen Brandert, MPH, CHES
Brenda K. Thompson, MPH
AMCHP Conference February 24, 2009
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
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 individual2. Your health before your conception (i.e. your mom’s
health pre-conception)3. Your children’s health (intergenerational
component).
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)
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
THEORY EDUCATING the WORKFORCE
PRACTICE
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
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
Time to Play the Game!
Brainstorm
Questions?