IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i18p3299-d265303.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multi-Service Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Women with Substance Use Concerns: Women’s Perspectives on Why They Seek Help and Their Significant Changes

Author

Listed:
  • Carol Hubberstey

    (Principal, Nota Bene Consulting Group, Victoria, BC V8R 3M4, Canada)

  • Deborah Rutman

    (Principal, Nota Bene Consulting Group, Victoria, BC V8R 3M4, Canada)

  • Rose A. Schmidt

    (Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada)

  • Marilyn Van Bibber

    (Principal, Nota Bene Consulting Group, Victoria, BC V8R 3M4, Canada)

  • Nancy Poole

    (Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada)

Abstract

Within Canada, several specialized multi-service prevention programs work with highly vulnerable pregnant and early parenting women with substance use issues. Experiences of trauma, mental health, poverty, and other factors associated with the social determinants of health complete the picture. Program evaluations have demonstrated their value, but less has been said as to women’s reasons for choosing to seek help from these programs, what they were hoping to gain, or what difference they believe has occurred as a result. The Co-creating Evidence project is a multi-year (2017–2020) national evaluation of holistic programs serving women at high risk of having an infant with prenatal alcohol or substance exposure. The evaluation uses a mixed methods design involving quarterly program output and “snapshot” client data, as well as in-person, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with clients, program staff, and program partners. This article presents findings from interviews with women regarding why they sought help, how they used the services, and what they perceived to be the most significant change in their lives as a result. Obtaining help with substance use was the top theme for what women hoped to get from their participation in their program; however, women’s reasons were often intertwined. Additional motivations included wanting information, support or assistance with: child welfare; pregnancy; housing; getting connected to health care or prenatal care; and opportunities for peer support. With respect to the most significant life change, themes included: reduced substance use; improved housing; stronger mother–child connection; and improved wellness and social connections. Findings demonstrated that vulnerable, marginalized pregnant and parenting women who are using substances will seek help when health and social care services are configured in such a way as to take into consideration and address their unique roles, responsibilities, and realities.

Suggested Citation

  • Carol Hubberstey & Deborah Rutman & Rose A. Schmidt & Marilyn Van Bibber & Nancy Poole, 2019. "Multi-Service Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Women with Substance Use Concerns: Women’s Perspectives on Why They Seek Help and Their Significant Changes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3299-:d:265303
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/18/3299/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/18/3299/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Grant, Therese & Christopher Graham, J. & Ernst, Cara C. & Michelle Peavy, K. & Brown, Natalie Novick, 2014. "Improving pregnancy outcomes among high-risk mothers who abuse alcohol and drugs: Factors associated with subsequent exposed births," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 11-18.
    2. Choi, Sam & Ryan, Joseph P., 2007. "Co-occurring problems for substance abusing mothers in child welfare: Matching services to improve family reunification," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(11), pages 1395-1410, November.
    3. Deborah Rutman & Carol Hubberstey, 2019. "National Evaluation of Canadian Multi-Service FASD Prevention Programs: Interim Findings from the Co-Creating Evidence Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-21, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Vivian Lyall & Lindsay Wolfson & Natasha Reid & Nancy Poole & Karen M. Moritz & Sonya Egert & Annette J. Browne & Deborah A. Askew, 2021. "“The Problem Is that We Hear a Bit of Everything…”: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Factors Associated with Alcohol Use, Reduction, and Abstinence in Pregnancy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-24, March.
    2. Lorraine Greaves, 2020. "Missing in Action: Sex and Gender in Substance Use Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-7, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vivian Lyall & Lindsay Wolfson & Natasha Reid & Nancy Poole & Karen M. Moritz & Sonya Egert & Annette J. Browne & Deborah A. Askew, 2021. "“The Problem Is that We Hear a Bit of Everything…”: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Factors Associated with Alcohol Use, Reduction, and Abstinence in Pregnancy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-24, March.
    2. Lloyd, Margaret H. & Akin, Becci A. & Brook, Jody, 2017. "Parental drug use and permanency for young children in foster care: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 177-187.
    3. Ben-David, Vered, 2016. "Substance-abusing parents and their children in termination of parental rights cases in Israel," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 94-100.
    4. Piper, Kathryn A., 2017. "Differential response in child protection: How much is too much?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 69-80.
    5. Shdaimah, Corey S., 2009. ""CPS is not a housing agency"; Housing is a CPS problem: Towards a definition and typology of housing problems in child welfare cases," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 211-218, February.
    6. Sarah Soyeon Oh & Yongho Jee & Eun-Cheol Park & Young Ju Kim, 2020. "Alcohol Use Disorders and Increased Risk of Adverse Birth Complications and Outcomes: An 11-Year Nationwide Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-10, November.
    7. Chartier, Stéphanie & Blavier, Adélaïde, 2021. "Should the reintegration of children in foster care into their biological families be the only goal of the legislation governing foster care? Factors influencing the relations between parents and thei," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    8. Mowbray, Orion & Ryan, Joseph P. & Victor, Bryan G. & Bushman, Gregory & Yochum, Clayton & Perron, Brian E., 2017. "Longitudinal trends in substance use and mental health service needs in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1-8.
    9. Johnson-Motoyama, Michelle & Brook, Jody & Yan, Yueqi & McDonald, Thomas P., 2013. "Cost analysis of the strengthening families program in reducing time to family reunification among substance-affected families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 244-252.
    10. Grant, Therese & Christopher Graham, J. & Ernst, Cara C. & Michelle Peavy, K. & Brown, Natalie Novick, 2014. "Improving pregnancy outcomes among high-risk mothers who abuse alcohol and drugs: Factors associated with subsequent exposed births," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 11-18.
    11. Kang, Jiyoung, 2012. "Pathways from social support to service use among caregivers at risk of child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 933-939.
    12. Dauber, Sarah & Neighbors, Charles & Dasaro, Chris & Riordan, Annette & Morgenstern, Jon, 2012. "Impact of intensive case management on child welfare system involvement for substance-dependent parenting women on public assistance," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 1359-1366.
    13. Larry Burd & Svetlana Popova, 2019. "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Fixing Our Aim to Aim for the Fix," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-6, October.
    14. Helton, Jesse J., 2016. "Food neglect and maltreatment re-report," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 77-83.
    15. Chambers, Ruth M. & Brocato, Jo & Fatemi, Maryam & Rodriguez, Angel Y., 2016. "An innovative child welfare pilot initiative: Results and outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 143-151.
    16. Dare, Julie & Wilkinson, Celia & Karthigesu, Shantha P. & Coall, David A. & Marquis, Ruth, 2023. "Keeping the family: A socio-ecological perspective on the challenges of child removal and reunification for mothers who have experienced substance-related harms," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    17. Simon, James David & Brooks, Devon, 2019. "Targeting services to reduce need after a child abuse investigation: Examining complex needs, matched services, and meaningful change," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 386-394.
    18. Tonino Esposito & Ashleigh Delaye & Martin Chabot & Nico Trocmé & David Rothwell & Sonia Hélie & Marie-Joelle Robichaud, 2017. "The Effects of Socioeconomic Vulnerability, Psychosocial Services, and Social Service Spending on Family Reunification: A Multilevel Longitudinal Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, September.
    19. Bedston, Stuart & Philip, Georgia & Youansamouth, Lindsay & Clifton, John & Broadhurst, Karen & Brandon, Marian & Hu, Yang, 2019. "Linked lives: Gender, family relations and recurrent care proceedings in England," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-1.
    20. Grant, Therese & Huggins, Janet & Graham, J. Christopher & Ernst, Cara & Whitney, Nancy & Wilson, Dee, 2011. "Maternal substance abuse and disrupted parenting: Distinguishing mothers who keep their children from those who do not," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2176-2185.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3299-:d:265303. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.