SAFE4BOTH integration of mobile technologies with case management (CM) systems provide education, work flow among multiple stakeholders to implement Plan of Safe Care (POSC) for SUD mom and infants - Project Summary/Abstract
It is crucial that parenting women with substance use disorder (SUD) receive support for maintaining their
treatment goals and looking after their infants’ physical, emotional, and safety needs. Mothers recovering from
SUD are at greater risk of not having the support of traditional extended families or social networks in their
parenting, and many lack coping skills. A mobile health (mHealth) platform that engages the mothers with their
case managers through mobile phones or wifi-connected tablets will make the case management more
efficient and referrals more appropriate and timely. This electronic Plan of Safe Care (ePOSC) has the
potential to be disseminated across the nation for better coordination and support for postpartum mothers with
SUD and their substance-exposed infants and case managers.
For this R43 SBIR Phase 1, we will develop an mHealth platform called “SAFE4BOTH.” SAFE4BOTH is
designed to include microlearning parenting information and support materials, integrated short messaging
service for appointment reminders and contact information updates, a one-stop calendar for infant and
maternal appointments and contact lists for referrals. The SAFE4BOTH platform will build on a POSC, as
model, developed by Christiana Hospital in Delaware (Christiana) in use in all of its hospitals, and will add in a
customizable contingency management system with prize incentives. Input from other states will also be
provided. Our expectation is that by establishing an ePOSC with a case management approach for both the
mother and infant it will be possible to reduce issues of fragmented postnatal maternal and infant care, improve
interactions with the Delaware Division of Family Services and other service providers, and improve the
communication required for an effective POSC.
Phase 1 Specific Aims: (1) Determine through formative research with case managers, caregivers, and
relevant stakeholders the needs and requirements for a ePOSC for use with postpartum women with SUD and
their infants; (2) Build the prototype SAFE4BOTH platform to compile information to facilitate collaborative care
(CC) and case management for the mother-infant dyad; and (3) Pilot test the SAFE4BOTH for feasibility
(usability and acceptance).
The short term impact of SAFE4BOTH will be to improve the communication between providers and
postpartum mothers to provide a quality POSC. The long-term impacts of SAFE4BOTH are expected to be
increased attendance at medical and social work appointments, improved parenting skills for postpartum
mothers and infant caretakers, and improved state-based collaborative care case management.
