Oral

This session will explore the role that politics and public policy play in determining birth outcomes in the United States. Research will be presented on a variety of state and national programs and policies that directly or indirectly affect pregnancy outcomes. The session will include research on the Medicaid Program, WIC, and the Healthy Start Program. Attendees will gain increased understanding of the negative and positive effects of policies on programs designed to improve birth outcomes. The importance of public-private partnerships in preventing preterm birth will also be examined. An update on the National Healthy Start Evaluation will be highlighted in this session.

Session Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to: 1. Identify 3 ways that local, state, and national policies can directly or indirectly affect pregnancy outcomes 2. Describe the elements of a public-private partnership and list two ways such a partnership might improve pregnancy outcomes 3. List two outcomes of the Healthy Start Evaluation and discuss how national health policy might be influenced by the results.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing