HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07111989 - 1.53 100053 tv�
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Mark Finucane Contra
Costa
DATE: June 7, 1989 Cay "*
SUBJECT: AB741 CO
'�
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECCMMENDATION(S) 4 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommended Action
Support AB 741 (Speier ) , the Alcohol and Drug Affected Infants and
Mothers Act of 1989, which would provide funds to counties and non-profit
groups for substance abuse treatment, and related services for substance
abusing pregnant and postpartum women and their families.
Background
It is conservatively estimated that at least 12,000 California infants
are born each year exposed to alcohol or drugs during pregnancy. Eight
hundred to 1300 of these infants are Contra Costa County residents. The
health effects of maternal addiction on these infants are severe,
creating lifelong birth defects in some and killing others.
Alcohol/drug affected infants often require prolonged and expensive
hospitalization. With an average cost of 819,000 per infant, MediCal
reports that state reimbursements for neonatal intensive care have ,lumped
80% in three years, to '8104 million annually.
The only effective means of protecting the health of these infants is to
provide the services needed by mothers to address a problem that is
addictive, not chosen. California has more than one million women of
childbearing age who suffer from an alcohol and/or drug dependency
problem and current resources are not adequate to meet the need.
AB 741 will provide funding to counties to develop and expand
residential and non-residential alcohol and drug treatment programs for
pregnant women, new mothers, and their children. These programs would be
designed to meet the special needs of this population, such as child
care, transportation, domestic partner and family support , and parenting
training. Counties that receive these funds would be required to
coordinate prevention and treatment services for pregnant women and new
mothers among the various county departments and agencies that are
involved. In addition, AB 741 provides for training regarding alcohol
and drug dependency for community providers of health, education and
social services to women of childbearing age.
Contra Costa County departments and community agencies are working
together already to serve this population, but additional funding and
state support is necessary in order to expand services. The activities
in Contra Costa have been a model for this bill . Contra Costa County
will be eligible to apply for additional financial support shoul this
bill pass.
CONTINUED ON ATTACIMENT. _ YES 910HATURK:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY AOMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEEAPPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE 15 : Z&
ACTION OF BOARD ON jULI I i989 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER _
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 IEREBY CERTIFY TI IAT TI II S IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES. AND ENTERED ON TI-E MINUTES OF TI,E 130ARD
ABSENT:' ABSTA 1 N: OF SUPERVISORS ON TI IE DATE SI TOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED Jul1- 1 1969
Health Services Director PIIIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF TIIE BOARD OF
Assemblywoman Speier SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY AOMINISTRATOR
Les Spahnn, SRJ. Jackson, Barish & Assoc.
M382/7-83 BY DEPUTY