WPF ComboBox bind itemssource to different datacontext in MVVM

Question

I have a user control that has its datacontext set to a view model called EmployeeList_VM. I then have a ContentControl within that user-control that has i

Answer 1

so here is what worked for me, hope it can help someone else

<ComboBox Name="cbStatus" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Grid.Row="2"
                                          Style="{StaticResource FTC_DetailComboBox}"
                                          ItemsSource="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type UserControl}},Path=DataContext.EmployeeStatus}"
                                          SelectedItem="{Binding ElementName=DetailControl, Path=DataContext.employee_status}"
                                          SelectedValuePath="idStatus"
                                          SelectedValue="{Binding idStatus, Mode=TwoWay, ValidatesOnDataErrors=True}"
                                          DisplayMemberPath="chrCode"/>