Thursday, November 30, 2023
11/30/2023
Healthy Moms and Babies will address Alabama's growing use of illicit drugs by pregnant and postpartum women, especially opioids. The project will promote the development and implementation of a statewide strategy to provide a continuum of family based services for pregnant and postpartum women. It will also support two new treatment programs that will open in communities with some of the state's highest rates of babies born dependent upon opioids. The new outpatient treatment programs will serve pregnant and postpartum women in Colbert, Lawrence and Walker Counties, which are larger rural counties with some of the nation's highest rates of opioid use and babies born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Babies born in the proposed catchment area were born dependent on opioids at rates that were more than 350 to 600% higher than the the national average. The project will serve 30 women in the first year and 120 women in the three year grant period. At least 55% of the women served in these programs will have opioid use disorders. The treatment providers, Aletheia House and Birmingham Fellowship House, have been providing substance use disorder treatment services in Central Alabama for more than 45 years. Project goals include: 1)increasing access to family based services for pregnant and postpartum women with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder, with at least 55% of the women receiving services for an opioid use disorder; 2)expanding Alabama's continuum of care for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders, especially opioid use disorders, by increasing access to evidence based non-residential services; and 3)improving the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of services provided to pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders, especially opioid use disorders, by encouraging new approaches and models of service delivery. The project's treatment providers will utilize evidence based interventions including: 1)cognitive behavioral therapy; 2)twelve step facilitation; 3)medication assisted treatment; 4)gender responsive, trauma informed services; 5)case management; and 6)peer recovery support services. The project will also enhance and strengthen the state infrastructure by providing: 1)a comprehensive needs assessment using statewide epidemiological data; 2)a comprehensive strategic plan that will include strategies that increase service use and improve outcomes for the population of focus; and 3)providing on-going training and support for workforce development.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
