West Virginia University Research Corporation

The long-term goals of these proposed efforts are to: 1) establish and evaluate a comprehensive team model for infants with NAS and their families; 2) expand and sustain communication among a collection of service providers; and 3) coordinate services that address family need. Target Population: The opioid epidemic is associated with poor health outcomes, chronic stress from abuse and neglect, and poverty and is presently higher than the national average in WV. This proposal focuses on 9 northern WV counties with the highest NAS prevalence rates and most impacted by the physical, economic, and social effects of maternal substance use. Services developed to increase resiliency against hardships and poor health outcomes must incorporate attention to social determinants of health and take a two-generation approach. There is also a vital need to coordinate care such that an exposed child and family has a complete medical home team available to them to identify, and connect to, needed services. Training, technical assistance, and referral mechanisms within this system of care will be provided to strengthen resources for these teams as well as lessons learned to the regional and national audiences. The consortium's postpartum follow up care for infants and their families will utilize evidence-based weaning and transition techniques noted in Pediatric and Neonatology literature. Home visiting curricula such as Right From the Start and Parents As Teachers are also evidence based and will be provided. Successful implementation of our consortium activities are expected to provide: direct services that include service providers in a comprehensive way, increase communication among providers, improve direct services as a result and health outcomes for the infant and family, and provide needed programming, training, and referral points to fill service gaps.