Health & Human Services
Drug Free Moms and Babies Program
Location: West Virginia
Status: Active
Quantified Ventures is working with West Virginia Perinatal Partnership (WVPP) to scale its Drug Free Moms and Babies (DFMB) program. WVPP strives to lower the rates of substance use and addiction among pregnant mothers—at least to rates comparable to those seen in other states. The DFMB program was developed to provide prevention, screening, early intervention, addiction treatment, and recovery support services for pregnant and postpartum West Virginian women. The WVPP has been able to deliver significant outcomes with its partner practices and now seeks to identify a sustainable funding mechanism to cover all geographies and deliver services to all women in need.
Problem
According to the West Virginia Health Statistics Center, nearly 5 percent of babies born in the state in 2016 were born drug dependent. Substance use in pregnancy is a major factor contributing to poor health outcomes for mothers and babies. It is costly in terms of human lives and increases the need for acute care services when babies are born prematurely or with other related health challenges. Furthermore, the long-term consequences for children born with dependence can be significant, including both health and behavior-related issues.
Approach
Quantified Ventures is working closely with WVPP staff, advisors, and other contractors to better understand the strategic objectives and assets, organizational structure and governance, existing partnerships and clients, intervention model, and capital requirements needed for scale. This process will enable us to discover the full range of potential value inherent in the DFMB intervention, such that we can help the WVPP team to develop the most viable and high-impact expansion of the program.
Impact
Evidence generated on the DFMB program over the past several years indicates strong positive impact by targeting the appropriate population, increasing care coordination, and improving maternal and infant health outcomes. There are also tremendous potential economic gains to be achieved with these improved maternal and newborn health outcomes across State and Federal government agencies as well as managed Medicaid.
Additional Materials
DFMB Program One Sheet (November 2019)
DFMB Program Development Manual (October 2017)
Partners
