About Us

The Preconception Health Council of California

The mission of the Preconception Health Council of California (PHCC) is to engage individuals, communities, health care organizations and policymakers to optimize the health and well-being of women and their partners, leading to healthier infants and families.

Founded in May 2006 as a partnership between the California Department of Public Health’s Maternal Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) Division and the March of Dimes California Chapter, the PHCC is a statewide forum for planning and decision-making for the integration, development and promotion of preconception health and health care. The PHCC has engaged stakeholders to develop a strategic plan to 1) increase awareness about health issues for women of childbearing age; 2) improve availability of preconception health care services and increase access to these services; and 3) facilitate the adoption of a framework for women’s health that acknowledges the importance of addressing women’s health care across the lifespan and the impact of social determinants on health.

The PHCC has established goals, objectives and activities to implement the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Select Panel Recommendations for the Nation on Preconception Health and Health Care. The PHCC prioritizes issues through regular Council meetings and issue-specific workgroups, and provides direction for:

• Integration of preconception health and health care in clinical and public health practice;
• Development of financial and public policy strategies to support and sustain preconception health and health care;
• Promotion of key preconception health messages that address physical and psychosocial well-being to women and men of reproductive age in California.
• Increasing access to preconception care to eliminate disparities in maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. 

 Members of the PHCC include representatives from the following agencies and organizations:

For a full list of PHCC members, click here.

For more information about the Council, contact the March of Dimes: capreconception@marchofdimes.com