Project Nurture saves families
Project Nurture is a low-barrier outpatient substance abuse treatment program for pregnant women. “Project Nurture not only saves moms, it saves families,” said Kasey Edwards Snider, peer support counselor for the program.
Project Nurture provides prenatal care and drug treatment as early in pregnancy as possible and care for the mothers and their infants for up to a year postpartum, providing peer support, case management and advocacy services throughout.
The program is centered in the family medicine primary care clinic at Providence Milwaukie Hospital. “We have three doctors who help these women meet all their medical needs on the same day they come to treatment group,” said Kasey. “Our doctors genuinely care about these women and want them to succeed; they don’t have negative preconceptions of them. Many of the women struggle to stop using while pregnant.”
Participants attend a treatment group on Mondays. While there, “we are able to connect them with all the resources they need to get where they want to be in life,” said Kasey.
She helps her clients prepare for meetings with the Department of Human Services by working with the mother to create a plan for addressing the challenges she faces. “Many times, my participation in the meeting between the mother and DHS is a game-changer for both of them. It is one of the most important things I do,” she said.
Kasey knows what it’s like for these mothers. “I am almost 9 years clean, but I struggled with substance abuse, homelessness and domestic violence while I was pregnant with my daughter. I think I am trusted because I have lived a similar life,” she said. Her daughter is now 11 and thriving.
Your support helped provide educational materials and training to staff.
Project Nurture is a collaboration between Providence, Legacy, Lifeworks NW, CODA, OHSU, Oregon DHS Child Welfare and Health Share of Oregon.