April 25, 2016 - The Thunder Bay Drug Strategy held the Working Towards a Community Response to Substance Use Pregnancy and Parenting event at the Sister Margaret Smith Centre today to help agencies better understand the unique needs of women who use substances that are pregnant or parenting.

"We have gathered key decision makers and front-line staff from numerous community agencies for this event to learn how to recognize and understand the needs of substance-involved women and their children," said Cynthia Olson, Drug Strategy Coordinator. "The goal is to develop a shared vision to responding to those needs."

The Maternal Substance Use & Child Working Group Research Committee completed a literature review to identify risk factors and barriers that make women vulnerable to substance use, as well as current trends and best practice models and presented that information to community leaders last April.

The Research Committee also completed an environmental scan to inform the local context in relation to services and need.  This session builds on the previous one and aims to begin developing an integrated plan of care for substance-involved women and their children in the region.

"The problem of substance use during pregnancy is a serious public health issue that requires a comprehensive community response," said Margaret Leslie, Director, Early Intervention Program - Mothercraft/Breaking the Cycle.  "It is commendable that so many community service providers have come together today to talk about the right response for Thunder Bay, and how they can be a part of that response to support pregnant women, mothers and children who are touched by substance use."

The Thunder Bay Drug Strategy is the official community plan to address substance use in Thunder Bay. More than 35 organizations and community members have signed on as Drug Strategy Partners, and 16 have joined the Maternal Substance Use and Child Working Group. The Maternal Substance Use & Child Issues Working Group welcomes new members to get involved in this important work.

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Contact: Cynthia Olsen, Thunder Bay Drug Strategy Coordinator, 625-2942