Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104285

Lori Reeves, MPH, Florida Chapter, March of Dimes, 341 N. Maitland Avenue, Suite 115, Maitland, FL 32751, 407-599-5077, lreeves@marchofdimes.com, Debra Bara, MA, Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas, 2735 Whitney Road, Clearwater, FL 33760, and Betsy M. Wood, BSN, MPH, Family Health Services, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A13, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

Florida's Healthy Start Program, implemented in 1992, expanded eligibility for prenatal care and provided universal prenatal screening. Nevertheless, rates of preterm birth and infant mortality have begun to rise in Florida in spite of increased access to first trimester prenatal care and fewer women receiving late or no prenatal care. This session describes a partnership approach developed between Florida Department of Health Maternal and Child Health, Florida's Healthy Start, and March of Dimes, which led to the Perinatal Periods of Risk (PPOR) initiative that examined data in seven Florida counties accounting for 60% of all Florida births. The project provided training and support for each of these counties to implement PPOR to examine disparities in birth outcomes at the local level. This partnership empowered a modification of the Florida Vitagrant project to include a preconception health component at the state level.

National data shows that preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal death. Results of PPOR analysis showed that the area of greatest disparities in birth outcomes was in prematurity, and the intervention period to reduce risk was in maternal/preconception health.

Maternal/preconception health is a new focus that requires reallocation of resources and careful examination of existing policies to determine the need for changes. PPOR results and partnerships helped change standards and guidelines throughout the state of Florida, providing greater access to preconception health services. We also describe the importance of working within existing health structures, including coalitions, state health agencies, and community agencies to influence policy and services.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Define a PPOR learning collaborative
• 2.Assess partnership opportunities for local and state maternal child health collaborations
• 3.Describe how evidence-based data can influence public health policy within a state

Keywords: Collaboration, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation