Through a two-year collaborative effort, the CDC has successfully aligned the efforts of a number of its external partners and internal programs. An internal workgroup on preconception care, with participants representing 22 programs from across CDC, was convened in 2003-2004. On June 21 and 22, 2005 and in partnership with Department of Health and Human Services and 35 national professional organizations, CDC hosted a National Summit on Preconception to obtain a better understanding of current programs, knowledge and practices related to preconception care and to allow practitioners to share their experiences with other participants.  The Summit was attended by over 400 professionals; practitioners from 68 communities presented their work at the Summit.   On June 22 and 23, 2005, CDC convened a Select Panel on Preconception Care, which included experts from a variety of national organizations concerned about the health of women, infants, and families.  Together, the CDC internal workgroup and the Select Panel developed a set of 10 recommendations for improving preconception health and care.  The recommendations were published on April 21, 2006, in the MMWR Recommendations and Reports, Volume 55, No. RR-6.    A summary of the recommendations, including goals, vision and definition of preconception care are also available.

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Date: April 12, 2006
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities