Project Description:
The CDCI is receiving support from the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) to improve training & supports for children and families with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). The work is called Project SCOPE: Supporting Children of the OPioid Epidemic. A key initiative working on this is Project ICON (Improving Care for Opioid-Exposed Newborns) at the UVM Larner College of Medicine.
The goal of Project SCOPE Vermont is to help providers develop effective screening, monitoring, and interdisciplinary support for children and families with NAS. NAS is a medical condition in infants who go into opioid withdrawal shortly after they're born.
Vermont has one of the highest rates of NAS in the U.S. And for 20 years, Vermont has worked to decrease barriers for pregnant people to receive addiction treatment. The effects of NAS can extend beyond infancy. All families with NAS are eligible for Children's Integrated Services (CIS), but participation is inconsistent around the state. We want to make sure CIS providers are trained in this approach alongside healthcare and other providers to increase interdisciplinary care.
The 2022 SCOPE Vermont learning series ran March 7 to May 9 (Mondays, 12:00 - 1:30, no session on April 18). These sessions were intended for anyone working with children and families affected by opioid use including healthcare providers, children's integrated services providers, educators, and more. All sessions used the ECHO framework to share best practices in an engaging all-teach, all-learn model. Each session included an expert presentation on the topic, an interactive case presentation, and group discussion.
