In the Life Course Game, participants are led through an interactive experience, designed to illustrate key concepts of the life course framework. Specifically, participants receive birth certificates at the start of the game that identify socially- and biologically-based historical factors that help determine their course in life. As they work their way through the game board, each person's roll of the dice identifies risk factors and protective factors that either push down or lift up their overall health trajectory and life course. The game concludes with each player rolling the dice a final time to determine their end-of-life outcomes (retirement projections, years-of-life remaining, etc.)

Discussion will follow for participants to share their experiences with playing the game, the risk and protective factors that affect their lives and the lives of those they serve, and an opportunity to discuss ideas and strategies for incorporating a life course perspective into their lives and their work.

This Facilitator's Guide provides detailed instructions for conducting and playing the Life Course Game. The Guide also includes a series of discussion questions for debriefing the game and beginning a conversation around integrating the life course perspective into communities.

The Life Course Game can be used in a variety of settings, including in a large plenary, a community meeting, a classroom, or a training session. It has been used by professionals to raise general awareness of the myriad of risk and protective factors that determine a person's life course (poverty, race, environment, etc.) in community groups, with health care providers, and with students. Others have used the game to begin conversations about translating life course theory into public health and clinical practice. Though these are the most common uses for the game, CityMatCH has worked with groups who have used the game in broader venues and outside of public health (e.g. one community used the game to talk with after school providers about incorporating a life course view into their programming).

The Life Course Game is available for purchase!

Each Facilitator's Kit ordered will include three complete sets of Life Course Games (allowing up to 30 players per kit). The following items are included in each Kit:

• 1 Facilitator's Guide
• 3 Instruction Sheets
• 3 Game Boards
• 3 sets of Game Profiles (5 each)
• 3 sets of Game Pieces (5 each)
• 3 sets of Dice (2 each)
• 3 sets of Green WALK Cards
• 3 sets of Red STOP Cards
• PowerPoint Template (download here)

Please print and complete theorder form. Only payment by check can be made at this time. No other forms of payments are accepted.

Games are not sold separately.

Once the completed order form and check is received, please allow one month to receive your order.

For more information on the Life Course Game, the Facilitator's Kit, or for orders of more than 25 Kits, please contact the CityMatCH offices at 402-561-7500.