National Council on Folic Acid

1
National Council on Folic Acid

• National Meeting June 29, 2009Take Home
  Messages

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.
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National Council on Folic Acid

• Take Home Messages State of Science on Folic
  Acid
• The data on preventing NTDs is solid and there is
  a need to continue educating about the importance
  of 400 mcg folic acid for women of childbearing
  age.
• Data from NHANES
• 72 of the population consume lt 400 mcg32
  get gt 400 mcg4 get gt 1,000 mcgIf the amount
  of folic acid fortification was doubled50
  would get gt400mcg6 would get gt1,000 mcgThis is
  still within range of the upper level allowed by
  FDA

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.
3
National Council on Folic Acid

• Take Home Messages State of Science on Folic
  AcidSupplements are main contributors to high
  intakes and 75 of seniors take supplements with
  folic acid.Cole article (JAME 2007) is a
  supplement study. Multicenter study for 3
  yearsNew adenomas had no change in 3 years at 6
  years a 2.3 risk of adenomas
• Logan (UK) 500 mcg 3 year studyno increase
  in colorectal adenomasMedia reports about
  increase of colorectal cancer in relation to
  fortification is not biologicalAccentuate the
  positive the science supporting the connection
  between birth defects prevention and folic acid
  is strong

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.
4
National Council on Folic Acid

• Take Home Messages Success Stories
• NC Folic Acid Council
• -rates of NTDs have decreased more than 70 in
  Western NC since the campaign
• -have coordinated preconception folic acid
  message with obesity campaign, thus increasing
  chance of sustainability
• CT Folic Acid Council
• -take minutes of meetings and keep on file (no
  records from council from 1990s)

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.
5
National Council on Folic Acid

• Take Home Messages Success Stories
• CT Folic Acid Council
• -emphasize role of male in influencing
  significant other as an intervention
• Western Regional NC Folic Acid Campaign
• -Significant behavior change was accomplished
  with a relatively inexpensive tool, a 3 month
  supply of multivitamins costing only 1.15 a
  bottle

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.
6
National Council on Folic Acid

• Take Home Messages Success Stories
• Migrant Health Promotion
• -successful interventions included placing an
  ongoing show at a Christian radio station
  utilizing community leaders that they trained
• -grocery stores got involved and gave out free
  prenatal vitamins and multivitamins to women at
  half price

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.
7
National Council on Folic Acid

• Take Home Messages Coalition I Organizing
  and Sustaining
• -The path between starting and maintaining a
  coalition is seldom straight or level.
• -There are 4 stages of coalition development
  forming, storming, norming, performing
• -The coalition coordinator/leader is the
  catalyst. Constant communication is key!
• -Make sure your coalition represents those whom
  you serve (diversity).
• -Stay fresh in how your coalition thinks or
  looks. Be willing to re-package.
• -Always look back at your accomplishments and
  decide where to go next.

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.
8
National Council on Folic Acid

• Take Home Messages Coalition II Cultural
  Competency
• -Cultural competency is a life-long process, both
  developmental and emotional. It matters because
  of the diversity in the US.
• Iceberg concept refers to some things being
  apparent (on the surface) and some things not
  (below the surface)
• - Communication is key. There may be differences
  in perception and differences in learning styles.
• -Culture has implications and several factors
  should be considered with regard to Hispanic
  outreach respeto, familismo, language,
  fatalism, personalismo
• -Sources of possible miscommunication includes
  verbal and nonverbal communication,
  preconceptions and stereotypes.
• -Becoming more culturally competent is a process
  with ourselves, as we interact with others, and
  within coalitions.

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.
9
National Council on Folic Acid

• Take Home Messages Hispanic Outreach and Media
  Tool Kit Training
• -Latinos are everywhere About 40 are Hispanic
• -Many opportunities for folic acid outreach to
  Latinos 50 are childbearing age, 1.5-2 times
  more likely to have a baby with NTDs
• -Barriers to health care include access,
  sociocultural factors, structural factors.
• -Focus on what we can do and develop in concert
  with other efforts, eg diabetes awareness
• -A combination of media and community outreach
  works in fostering behavior change
• -Practice media sound bites. For the media,
  everything is on the record!
• -Use sample press releases and articles rather
  than reinventing the wheel.
• -Spanish language media feel responsibility to
  educate the Latino community and will want to
  hear your issue. They have bilingual staff, so
  you do not need to be fluent in Spanish.

The National Council on Folic Acid is managed by
the Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur
Blvd., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20007-4226,
800-621-3141x13, www.folicacidinfo.org.