Handle with Care: Substance Exposed Newborns

The opioid crisis has generated an urgency to identify more effective and rapid interventions for substance abusing mothers and their babies that have been prenatally exposed. The implications of exposure are staggering, and have resulted in an increase in foster care rates and neglect cases that not only burden local county services but harm developing lives.

At the MACo Summer Conference session “Handle with Care: Substance Exposed Newborns” learn more about how counties are taking action earlier to save and care for some of our most vulnerable residents.

Title: Handle with Care: Substance Exposed Newborns

Description: One unfortunate consequence of the opioid crisis is the dramatic rise in substance exposed newborns (SEN). SEN are babies that test positive for a controlled drug or show symptoms of withdrawal from prenatal exposure. These children and their families can experience a variety of health and welfare problems that overburden county resources, resulting in a growing urgency to identify more effective and rapid interventions. In this session, learn more about recent federal and local action being taken to spur earlier intervention and care for substance abusing mothers and their substance exposed newborns.

Speakers:

  • Tiffany Rexrode, Assistant Director for Adult, Child, and Family Services, Washington County
  • Brandi Stocksdale, Acting Deputy Executive Director for Programs, Social Services Administration
  • Jennifer Thomas, Staff Development Nurse Special Care Nursery and Pediatrics at Upper Chesapeake Health
  • Bethany Fisher, SEN Specialist, Harford County

Moderator: The Honorable Eric Bromwell, Maryland House of Delegates

Date/Time: Thursday, August 16, 2018; 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

The 2018 MACo Summer Conference will be held August 15-18 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland. This year’s theme is “Water, Water Everywhere.”

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: