Translating Policy to Practice and Back Again: Implementing a Preconception Program in Delaware
Received 18 April 2008; received in revised form 27 June 2008; accepted 30 June 2008. published online 13 October 2008.
The state of Delaware is in the unique position of implementing legislatively supported policy on preconception health. The state has allocated funding to translate preconception care policy to practice through a statewide program. The Delaware Division of Public Health has been given the responsibility of defining and implementing the preconception care program targeting a high-risk population. The state partnered with Medicaid, private practitioners, local hospitals, state service centers, and Federally Qualified Health Centers to develop a scope of program services that supplement the current clinical care provided at annual visits for women of childbearing age. Because the program has been in operation for 9 months, the Division of Public Health utilized feedback from the providing agencies to begin efforts for program sustainability and to modify the existing policy. Current efforts include developing outcome measures for the program, measuring program effectiveness through evaluation, and working with Medicaid and Managed Care Organizations to develop a reimbursement system for services.
aCenter for Excellence in Maternal and Child Health and Epidemiology, Senior Scientist assigned to Delaware from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Delaware Division of Public Health, Dover, Delaware
bWomen's Health Programs, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Christiana Care Health Services, Newark, Delaware
Correspondence to: Charlan Kroelinger, PhD, Center for Excellence in Maternal and Child Health and Epidemiology, Senior Scientist assigned to Delaware, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Delaware Division of Public Health, 417 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901
The authors have no direct financial interests that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted manuscript.
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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