Integrated practices supporting vulnerable pregnant persons facing multi-layered challenges

The POST (Prenatal Outreach Support Team) deliver family-centered care by providing an integrated team approach to their individual needs. POST is a collaborative partnership between the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre,... [ view full abstract ]

The POST (Prenatal Outreach Support Team) deliver family-centered care by providing an integrated team approach to their individual needs. POST is a collaborative partnership between the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, Alberta Health Services and Calgary Police Service. Leveraging each of their perspectives, team members identify and provide specialized intervention and referral services to vulnerable pregnant persons in high risk situations. This team assists approximately 30 individuals per month, facilitating their engagement with prenatal services and community supports to reduce risk to themselves and their pregnancies, resulting in healthier, safer births and infants. Using a harm reduction and client driven practice approach, front-line service providers conduct individualized goal and care plans using an integrated practice model. Of the clients served through these collaborative teams, 34% are challenged by mental health issues, 88% live with domestic violence, 44% struggle with problematic substance use and at least 90% live in poverty. Clients face multiple challenges in their daily lives. They are marginalized and socially isolated during pregnancy, resulting in decreased fetal health and safety. POST facilitates safe and supportive environments for healthy pregnancies and infants with in their community. POST facilitates a collective of pre-natal serving organizations throughout Calgary to build an evidence-based standard of care for vulnerable pregnant persons. A Case study will be used to illustrate the complexities of the continuum of care provided through these teams and in the community.

Components of a tool kit provided will be presented facilitate discussions for building similar programs:

• Important elements of integrated practice (role clarification, information sharing, engagement and support strategies).
• Strategies to identify and connect with vulnerable persons.
• Assessing risks for abuse and neglect.
• The benefits and challenges of an integrated model.
• Strategies that build community networks to create a consistent and streamlined process for clients.