Moms Do Care: Empowering Treatment for Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorder
The Moms Do Care (MDC) program, sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), focuses on providing integrated support for pregnant, postpartum, and parenting people affected by substance use through primary, obstetrical, behavioral health, recovery support, and case management services. With 11 sites funded since 2015, including birthing hospitals, community hospitals, and health centers across Massachusetts, MDC aims to meet the diverse needs of this population. Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) has partnered with MDC throughout its development, serving as the evaluator from its pilot phase to its statewide expansion, collaborating on the proposal and program design, and providing technical assistance, data collection, and analysis. This collaboration has led to significant recognition, including testimonials before Congress and a publication in the Maternal and Child Health Journal.
For over 35 years, Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) has been improving health and human services systems of care and business operations to help organizations and individuals reach their full potential.
CHALLENGE
MDC was initiated to address critical challenges in expanding medical and behavioral health services for pregnant and postpartum persons with substance use disorder (SUD) in Massachusetts. With increasing rates of opioid-related overdoses and pregnancy-associated deaths linked to substance use, BSAS recognized the urgent need for a multidisciplinary, integrated approach to improve engagement and retention in SUD treatment, including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD); increase access to individualized recovery support; and reduce stigma faced by the focus population. MDC therefore aimed to enhance MOUD access, reduce illicit drug use, and improve health and recovery outcomes. Additionally, MDC sought to increase the number of MOUD providers, improve workforce understanding of SUD in pregnant people, reduce stigma among medical providers, and better integrate primary care and behavioral health services. To tackle these challenges and improve service delivery, BSAS partnered with AHP for their expertise in program evaluation.
SOLUTION
AHP played a crucial role in the development and evaluation of the MDC program, from its inception to its statewide expansion. Collaborating closely with BSAS and program site staff, AHP contributed to BSAS’s original grant proposal and pilot design, identified local measures of interest, trained data collectors, and regularly analyzed and reported on study findings. The evaluation design included both process and outcome components, utilizing longitudinal client interviews, detailed service use data, and electronic surveys of medical personnel. The evaluation also highlighted social determinants of health, assessing major obstacles to program engagement and associated health outcomes. AHP’s continuous data analysis and reporting informed program development and adaptation.
RESULTS
AHP’s evaluation catalyzed MDC’s expansion from the initial pilot to a statewide program, sustainably funded at eleven sites since 2015. The findings provided crucial insights into the intervention’s effectiveness and highlighted the most promising strategies for supporting pregnant people with SUD. The MDC program has demonstrably increased the number of waivered buprenorphine prescribers and improved workforce understanding of SUD specific to pregnant and postpartum people, thereby reducing negative attitudes among medical providers. Furthermore, AHP’s work has fostered better integration of primary care and behavioral health services, enhancing overall care coordination for this population. The evaluation has also offered BSAS critical information on implementing complex interventions, helping shape MDC strategies over time to determine which program elements are most beneficial for different subgroups.
About Us
Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) creates powerful solutions to improve health and human services systems. By partnering with the federal government, states, municipalities, healthcare systems, and nonprofits, we help people experiencing the greatest disadvantages lead full and productive lives. We are national leaders in training and technical assistance, research and evaluation, publishing, and dedicated consulting. On issues from workforce development to mental health, substance use disorders to housing and homelessness, we help our clients enhance behavioral health care through systems change. AHP was founded nearly 40 years ago to develop solutions for some of the biggest social infrastructure challenges across the nation. Our company has offices in metro Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Find out more at www.ahpnet.com.
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