McMillen Health has received the remaining contingency funding of $25,000 necessary to move forward with development of an app for women suffering from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) who are pregnant or have recently given birth.

Initial funding in the amount of $47,750 was pledged from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation contingent on matching funding from other supporting organizations. Additional support from the PHP Foundation and Dr. Louis and Anne B. Schneider Foundation has been received, allowing release of the initial funding from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation.

The app will be designed for use by pregnant women or recently pregnant women with OUD, community health workers, home visitors, and other groups working with at-risk parents in an effort to educate pregnant women and community health workers on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and other content areas. Deliverables will include the app, curriculum pieces, parent resources, and training. While the app will initially be used for addressing OUD and NAS, it will be designed to update and add content areas focused on the reduction of infant mortality such as preventing preterm birth, nutrition, tobacco use in pregnancy, prenatal care, safe sleep, etc. An Advisory Group will be formed to guide the content development, which will be provided in video format within the app.

Annually, at least 350 low income pregnant or recently pregnant women, will be served through these resources. At least 20 professionals, annually, working with pregnant women, or recently pregnant women, will have the ability to verify their client’s progress. McMillen Health will pilot this project with Healthier Moms and Babies, and other home visiting organizations