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Project T.E.A.M.S
S Edelstein1, V Kropenske, J Howard
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1797.
Insights
Project T.E.A.M.S. trained interdisciplinary teams to support infants prenatally exposed to drugs. This enhanced caregiver skills and improved care for drug-exposed infants in out-of-home settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Welfare
- Public Health
Background:
- Infants prenatally exposed to drugs require specialized care.
- Out-of-home care settings face challenges in meeting these needs.
- Interdisciplinary support is crucial for optimizing infant health and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop skilled interdisciplinary teams for infants prenatally exposed to drugs.
- To enhance the care provided to drug-exposed infants in out-of-home placements.
- To address the medical, developmental, and environmental needs of these infants and their caregivers.
Main Methods:
- A 6-month training program combining didactic and clinical approaches.
- Focus on medical, developmental, environmental, and physical care for infants.
- Training addressed caregiver needs, family dynamics, and parenting issues.
Main Results:
- Enhanced knowledge and skills of child welfare and healthcare professionals.
- Demonstrated a successful training model for professionals serving drug-exposed infants.
- Improved capacity to support caregivers and optimize care for this vulnerable population.
Conclusions:
- Project T.E.A.M.S. provides an effective training model.
- Interdisciplinary teams are vital for addressing the complex needs of drug-exposed infants.
- This approach enhances professional skills to better serve a growing population.
Abstract:
Project T.E.A.M.S. (Training, Education, and Management Skills: Meeting the Needs of Infants Prenatally Exposed to Drugs), funded by a training grant from the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, developed skilled interdisciplinary teams to support caregivers and optimize the health and environmental care of infants exposed prenatally to drugs and placed in out-of-home care. Using both didactic and clinical approaches, the 6-month program addressed the medical, developmental, environmental, and physical care needs of drug-exposed infants and toddlers; the special needs of their caregivers; and family dynamics and parenting issues. By enhancing the knowledge and skills of staff from community-based child welfare and health care agencies, this project demonstrated a training approach for enhancing the skills of professionals who serve the growing population of prenatally drug-exposed infants.