Empowering communities : a DNP project on advisory board development for substance use and maternal health services

Engaging community members in developing healthcare initiatives for substance use disorder (SUD) among pregnant individuals remains a significant challenge. Establishing an integrated addiction medicine, obstetric, and family-centered clinic in Michigan highlights the need for a Community Advisory Board (CAB) that represents Metro Detroit's diverse needs. Despite the importance of community-driven care, mechanisms to effectively engage and utilize the CAB's insights to influence clinic operations and policy have not been established. This evidence-based practice (EBP) project aims to develop a CAB to empower the community and improve maternal health services for pregnant and postpartum individuals with SUD. A Community Needs Assessment (CNA) was conducted to identify key challenges. Some of the challenges identified included stigma, transportation barriers, limited treatment access, and healthcare coordination gaps. Using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model, the project focused on stakeholder engagement and addressing disparities in maternal and SUD treatment. Findings from the CNA highlighted significant care gaps, including transportation challenges, inconsistent medication-assisted treatment (MAT) access, and the need for culturally competent care. The implementation of a CAB will help to bridge these gaps by fostering community trust, improving access to resources, and strengthening communication between consumers and providers. This project reinforces the importance of community driven initiatives in addressing maternal health disparities and proposes a sustainable CAB model that can be adapted in similar healthcare settings. Future efforts should evaluate the long-term impact CABs have on reducing pregnancy-associated mortality rates and improving SUD treatment outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals.

Authors dc:creator

• Amadi, Nonye
• Bailey, Nekisha

Contributors dc:contributor

• Iseler, Jackie

• Substance abuse--Patients
• Medical care
• Advisory boards
• Maternal health services
• Medical care--Needs assessment
• Social medicine

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

dnp:72
oclc:1569639931
local:R_5E23F3HpzhyPsD7

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:d.lib.msu.edu:dnp_72