Perinatal Addictions Prevention Project

The Perinatal Addiction Prevention Project (PAPP) is an initiative funded by the Perinatal Health Services of the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services. The Northern New Jersey Maternal/Child Health Consortia provides oversight to this Project reaching Bergen, Essex, Morris, and Passaic member hospitals, private practitioners, substance abuse treatment facilities, and consumers.

LINKS page for more information!

The Goal

All Obstetricians, Perinatologists, Pediatricians, Midwives, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Medical Social Workers will integrate screening for substance abuse and partner violence during the initial prenatal and subsequent visits in order to prevent and/or reduce harm to pregnant women and reduce the risks associated with alcohol and drug exposure to the fetus.

Objectives

• Encourage prenatal care providers to incorporate the 4 P's Plus, a substance use and partner violence screening tool, into all health assessments.
• Provide training on perinatal substance use to ensure that providers are comfortable discussing substance use and partner violence with their patients.
• Offer educational presentations to non-medical professionals on the unique needs of substance using women and their children, and how to engage them more effectively into their services.
• Develop a resource directory of local and statewide services that accept and treat pregnant, postpartum women and their children for substance abuse, mental disorders, domestic violence, prenatal care services, and facilities that provide assessments and services to children affected by substance exposure in utero.
• Develop a Regional Perinatal Addiction Advisory Committee that will oversee the coordination and integration of all county and local services, as they relate to perinatal addiction.
• Network and advocate for expanded addiction treatment, mental health, and other related services to include pregnant women and their children.

Services

Consultations/Training for Medical Professionals

• On site training to enhance practitioners skills on how to effectively screen pregnant women for substance use and domestic violence.
• Utilizing Motivational Interviewing techniques during interviews with patients.
• In services and Grand Round presentations on Perinatal Addiction Prevention.
• Resource Directory listing substance abuse treatment services in Bergen, Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties that are available for pregnant and postpartum women and their children.

Consultations/Training for Professional Community

• Education to increase awareness and understanding regarding the unique needs of pregnant women and their children.
• Techniques on how to engage substance abusing pregnant women.
• Resource Directory of substance abuse treatment and domestic violence services available for pregnant and postpartum women and their children.

Consumer Education

• Educational seminars on the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on pregnancy and the developing fetus.
• Resources for substance abuse services and partner violence.

Visit our links page for further information on perinatal addictions, depression, trauma, partner violence, and several other relevant topics.

Click here for information on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. 

To learn more about Partner Violence click here. 

See how smoking effects your body.   Learn why and how to quit today.

If you or someone you know needs help with alcohol, tobacco, or other drug problems visit Join Together for help and information.

tell-a-friend printer friendly