Parents Recovering from Opioid Use Disorders (PROUD) - The CT Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS), is looking to reimagine the existing infrastructure of the established Pregnant and Parenting Women (PPW) program, Parents Recovering from Opioid Use Disorder (PROUD). Funded by SAMHSA and operational since 2020, this next round of PROUD funding will allow for expansion of clinical services statewide and allow expansion of comprehensive training efforts related to implementation of evidence-based practices through an extensive network of providers. In State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025, 17,641 women received substance use treatment at a DMHAS addiction program; 54.9% (9,688) of these women were between the ages of 20-44. Statewide population data reveals high rates of substance use among women of childbearing age, poor birth outcomes including neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and preterm birth, and maternal mortality attributed to SUD and mental health conditions. Additionally, women in CT struggle with access to insurance and adequate prenatal care. Living in an area with a Healthcare Provider Shortage Area (HPSA) designation can add to the challenges in accessing vital behavioral health, peer recovery, and medical services health and recovery resources for PPW and their families in these communities. The PROUD service model will shift to embed clinical services into the Women's REACH Program, a well-established statewide peer support community linkage program, to enhance services with a clinical offering for PPW. By doing so, PROUD services will expand statewide and PPW will be clinically supported as they concurrently connect with perinatal support, behavioral health and recovery coordination, parenting education, and other resources to support their overall wellbeing and recovery. The PROUD Clinicians will utilize evidence-based practices to engage and treat PPW and their families. Substance use, physical and mental health assessments, education and referrals will be provided to all participants, including children and family of the PPW. Primary features of the initiative will include easy accessibility through office-based telehealth and/or in-home support and individualization of services based on the assessed needs and preferences of each family. We will engage 600 PPW (i.e., 200 in each year of the project), including their children, partners, and other family members, into this team-based and community model. Participation in the PROUD initiative is expected to lead to reduced health disparities, including decreased substance use, criminal justice involvement, and HIV risk behaviors. Improved housing, employment outcomes, family functioning and involvement in social networks are anticipated to support the recovery journey of PPW and participating family members. PPW and their communities will be engaged through expansive outreach aimed at reducing stigma, increasing knowledge around addiction best practices and outlining resources and support services. In partnership with the CT Hospital Association and the CT Women’s Consortium, healthcare professionals will be offered access to diverse educational opportunities with the goal of increasing knowledge of SUD, the impact of stigma towards this population, screening best practices, and improving maternal health outcomes. Connecticut has considerable momentum to continue and expand this project given the many collaborating partners and synchronous initiatives. The PROUD Initiative will also support DCF with the full implementation of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment ACT (CAPTA) including the development of a Family Care Plan with all pregnant participants. An existing needs assessment and statewide strategic plan from the Substance Exposed Pregnancy Initiative CT project will be modified and enhanced specifically for the PROUD Initiative.
