Magnolia Women's Recovery Program's Project will improve access to evidence-based mental/behavioral services for prenatal/postpartum women at high risk for behavioral health issues. - Summary: Magnolia Women’s Recovery Programs (MWRP) serves women in Alameda County as a black, woman-owned/operated, mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to supporting marginalized pregnant/postpartum (P&P) women navigating mental/behavioral/substance use disorders, domestic violence, &/or homelessness. MWRP’s Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Program (CBMBH) will work with healthcare providers & organizations to improve access & referral pathways to evidence-based, timely, & culturally relevant maternal mental health & substance use intervention & treatment. MWRP will collaborate with P&P organizations, refer individuals in need of behavioral health care to the appropriate entities, & provide short-term mental health & substance use services to individuals who cannot access care. Funds Requested: $2,500,000 over five-year period. Target Population: Project’s population of focus are women in Oakland & Hayward at risk for/experiencing poverty, perinatal & postpartum health, domestic violence, substance abuse, behavioral health, & homelessness. Poverty: In Alameda County (AC), 14% of women 15-44 (16% of children under 6) live in poverty, including 7 of the 10 poorest Bay Area neighborhoods (poverty rates range from 47-67%). Pregnancy & Health: The birth rate is 11 per 1,000, & the fertility rate is 54 per 1,000 females aged 15-44.4 Black women in AC experience severe maternal morbidity at 224.4 per 10,000, more than double the California average of 104.2.4 The infant mortality rate for Black infants in AC is 8.4 per 1,000 live births, nearly double the state average of 4.2. 45.1% of Black women report often experiencing racism during maternal care, compared to 9.1% statewide, underscoring systemic disparities. Domestic Violence: In AC, African Americans are four times more likely to be victims of domestic violence (DV), with 49% of all DV deaths affecting this group. None of AC’s four transitional housing facilities explicitly provide culturally responsive care for Black or Latinx women. DV survivors are three times more likely to develop PTSD, exhibit suicidal ideation,1 & face addiction risks. Behavioral Health, including Substance Abuse: Postpartum depressive symptoms are reported by 23% of women in AC. 90% of MWRP residents have an unaddressed mental health diagnosis, leading to self-medication, & 40% battle PTSD. Opioid overdose & hospitalization visits among AC residents were highest among those residing in parts of Oakland. 32% of Black women in AC report prenatal depressive symptoms, over double the CA 15% average. Similarly, 10% of AC’s Latinas report postpartum depressive symptoms, versus 13% in CA. Effects of COVID: One in 5 of CA’s 2020 pregnancy-related deaths was from COVID. MWRP implemented COVID-specific Perinatal Residential Treatment Guidelines to increase safety via strict quarantine protocols & continuous care during outbreaks, including daily health monitoring & medication management. Goals & Objectives: Goal 1: Improve access to evidence-based, timely, & culturally relevant maternal health & substance treatment for low-income P&P women at risk for or experiencing behavioral health conditions, particularly those disproportionately impacted by COVID, via enhanced community referral pathways & seamless transitions in care. Obj 1.1: By Y5, increase equitable access to behavioral care for P&P women in high-risk target areas. Goal 2: Improve health outcomes for P&P women at risk of behavioral health & substance use disorders. Obj 2.1: Implement targeted interventions: personalized follow-up, access to support groups, enhanced case management, & tailored resources for P&P women so that rates of treatment retention increase from baseline by the end of Year 5. Obj 2.2: Deliver high quality training protocols for staff & health providers with trauma-informed training developed with participant input. Numbers Served: Y1: 50; Y2: 75; Y3: 90; Y4: 120; Y5: 150 - Total Unduplicated Served: 485
