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?