- Maricopa SHIFT provides healthcare and other support to pregnant women with substance use disorders to improve health outcomes for parents, babies, and families
- Individuals can reach out for support directly; healthcare providers can also connect patients to the program
- Clients like Clarissa get the support they need through pregnancy, postpartum, and recovery; video of Clarissa is here
It’s National Women’s Health Week, and a new initiative in Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is working to support pregnant people with substance use disorder (SUD) to ensure that newborns and their families have the best chance to grow and thrive.
“There are many reasons why someone might have a substance use disorder, such as traumatic events,” said Clay Jones, Maricopa SHIFT Program Coordinator with MCDPH. “They can happen to any of us, and they affect everyone differently. That’s why we focus on providing opportunities for recovery and prenatal care side-by-side.”
Maricopa SHIFT (Safe, Healthy Infants and Families Thrive) is a coordinated approach to improve outcomes for pregnant and parenting women, their infants, and their families. By providing healthcare and support to parents and parents-to-be, Maricopa SHIFT aims to reduce the incidence of babies exposed to substances in utero.
“Our goal is to help coordinate care and support for pregnant parents affected by substance use disorder, because a healthy parent means a healthy baby,” explained Jones. “We provide families with excellent care, an integrated and collaborative environment, and a compassionate approach for families filled with understanding, patience, healing, and hope.”
Maricopa SHIFT participants can access expertise and care from healthcare providers and professionals from a variety of city, county, state, and nonprofit agencies. Together, these partners form a comprehensive support system that encourages the health and safety of pregnant and postpartum parents and their newborns. This support system includes professionals in:
- Substance abuse treatment
- Early childhood development
- Prenatal care
- Pediatric healthcare
- Medication-assisted treatment
- The Women Infants and Children (WIC) program
- Child welfare
- Home visiting programs
Getting involved with Maricopa SHIFT is safe, easy, and confidential. Pregnant women and family members can contact the program to explore what kind of help Maricopa SHIFT can provide for them or a loved one, and healthcare providers can refer patients who are interested in support. To learn more or get involved, visit maricopaSHIFT.com, email maricopaSHIFT@maricopa.gov or call 602-526-6116.
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