Battling drug use in pregnancy

Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA, established the Capital Region Maternal Assistance Program (MAP) to reduce the incidence of substance abuse in pregnant women and new mothers by creating a bridge between perinatal and substance abuse services in the community. Two nurses at Holy Spirit developed the idea of setting up a program in the community and obtained permission from the hospital administrators to pursue the project. They drew in staff from an inner-city obstetrical clinic in nearby Harrisburg, PA, and formed a work group to plan and build a consortium of agencies. Another hospital joined the consortium within a year. With several grants, the team hired an MAP coordinator, who in turn hired care managers, leased vans, and started the MAP in an office on the campus of Holy Spirit Hospital. The program focuses on case management (facilitating access to available community (resources) as opposed to direct service delivery. Referrals come from a variety of healthcare providers, county courts, probation and parole offices, and Children and Youth Services. Care managers visit clients weekly in their homes; coordinate services provided by multiple hospitals, clinics, and agencies; help clients set goals and become self-reliant; and address problems with transportation and babysitting.