Background:
With the introduction of preconception health into the day-to-day workings of maternal and child health, it is essential that we have teaching tools to prepare public health students and health department employees with the competencies necessary to reframe and refocus the way we do our work. As MCH moves toward a deeper understanding of the life course approach, students and others need to be introduced to the philosophical underpinnings and practical aspects of this paradigm shift.

Objectives:
To describe and discuss interactive, informational and skill building curricula materials that can be used in an academic and health department setting for educating students and public health workers about preconception health.

Methods:
Over the past three years, several different curricula have been developed and implemented with public health students and public health workers in a county health department setting to provide education and training to these groups about preconception. These interactive, informational and skill building activities will be discussed.

Results:
Response to the various teaching tools and educational sessions has been positive. Practical steps for using these tools in an academic setting versus a public health setting will be discussed. Curricula materials are designed to give students and others a new way to think about MCH with a broader focus on reducing disparities in birth outcomes.

Conclusion and implications for practice:
Public health workforce needs to be trained to promote preconception health. It is our hope that this session will serve to stimulate a dialogue about the training needs of the public health workforce with regards to preconception health and health care.