HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06071988 - 1.115 TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Mark Finucane , Health Services Director Contra
by : William B . Walker , M .D . , County Health OfficeCJVJIa
DATE: May 26, 1 88 COU*
SUBJECT: Approve Submission of Special Needs and Priorities (SNAP ) "`7
Proposal to the State Department of Health Services for Funding to
Reduce the Number of Infants Born to Substance Abusing Mothers
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I . RECOMMENDED ACTION
A. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute on behalf of the
County, SNAP proposal for submission to the State Department
of Health Services requesting $62 , 329 of SNAP Public Health
Emergencies Funding for the period of July 1988 through June
1989 to implement a program to reduce substance abuse among
pregnant women in Contra Costa County; and
B . Authorize the Health Officer to submit to the State Department
of Health Services a Declaration that substance abuse by
pregnant women constitutes a public health hazard in Contra
Costa County .
II . FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this proposal by the State will result in $62 , 329 of
State funding to help reduce substance abuse among pregnant women .
The County contribution of $64 ,581 consists of time from existing
staff devoted to this project and other in kind contribution .
III . REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION /BACKGROUND
Over the last year we have observed a dramatic rise in the number of
pregnant women abusing drugs and alcohol in Contra Costa County ,
reflecting national trends . In early 1987 , 6% of mothers delivering
at Merrithew Memorial Hospital were identified as drug or alcohol
users . In early 1988 , a more intense effort to identify substance
abuse problems indicated that the actual number was closer to 30%.
Kaiser Walnut Creek Hospital reported in 1987 that 25% of women
enrolled in prenatal services admitted to using drugs and/or alcohol
during pregnancy .
These figures are reflected in an increased burden on county programs
providing services to infants of addicted mothers . In November ,
1987 , 20% of the enrollees in the High Risk Infant Follow-up Program ,
run by the Health Services Department , were born to mothers who
abused drugs or alcohol . Currently, 75% of new referrals to the
program involve mothers with substance abuse problems , nd the
program is filled to capacity . The Social
/S rvices D p rtment esti -
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOAR COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE ATTESTED DATE SHOWN.
cc: Health Services Contracts Unit - JUN 7 1988
Auditor Controller PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
State Department of Health Services SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY ,DEPUTY
M382/7-83 &_AZZWZX�
Page 2
mated in the fall of 1987 that it added 20 new infants each month to
its Child Protective Services caseload as a result of their exposure
to drugs during pregnancy .
The impact of maternal addiction on infants is devastating and
includes increased perinatal mortality , birth defects and develop -
mental delays . The Health Services Department has organized an
Alcohol , Drug and Pregnancy Task Force (ADAPT) to plan and develop
programs to meet this public health problem . The Department has
also established a Perinatal Addiction Services Coordinating Group
composed of the Drug and Alcohol Program Chiefs , the Maternal and
Child Health Coordinator , the Associate Executive Director for
Patient Care at Merrithew Memorial Hospital and a medical specialist
in drug addiction . We are applying for this available SNAP funding
to implement programs to reduce the number of babies born to
addicted mothers . As part of this SNAP Grant Application , the
Health Officer has declared that the problem of infants born to
substance abusing mothers constitutes a public health hazard in our
county .
Due to the emergency nature of this project , copies of the proposal
have previously been forwarded to the State Department of Health
Services but subject to Board approval .
The Board Chairman should sign eight ( 8) copies of the proposal ,
seven ( 7) of which should be returned to the Contracts and Grants
Unit for submission to the State .
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