title: Working with State Health Departments on Emerging Issues in Maternal and Child Health: Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) are highly effective in preventing unintended pregnancy. State health departments are in the process of implementing a systems change approach to better apply policies supporting the use of immediate postpartum LARC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Beginning in 2014, a group of national organizations, federal agencies, and six states have convened a LARC Learning Community to share strategies and best practices in immediate postpartum LARC policy development and implementation. Community activities consist of in-person meetings and a webinar series as forums to discuss systems change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Learning Community identified eight domains for discussion and development of resources: training, pay streams, stocking and supply, consent, outreach, stakeholder partnerships, service location, and data and surveillance. The community is currently developing resource materials and guidance for use by other state health departments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To effectively implement policies on immediate postpartum LARC, states must engage a number of stakeholders in the process, raise awareness of the challenges to implementation, and communicate strategies across agencies during policy development.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Charlan D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kroelinger
authors.affiliation: 2 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials , Arlington, Virginia.
authors.forename: Lisa F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.affiliation: 2 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials , Arlington, Virginia.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pliska
authors.affiliation: 2 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials , Arlington, Virginia.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.affiliation: 2 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials , Arlington, Virginia.
authors.forename: Einas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Addison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011361:Professional Competence; D013219:State Government; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female