2021 COMBAT Funding: $60,000.00

In Children's Mercy's Own Words

The goal of the TIES program is to identify and support pregnant and postpartum women and their families affected by substance abuse in order to reduce drug use, promote healthier families, increase family stability through education and employment, and build on family resources.

All Family Members Will Be Served

The target population is adult pregnant or postpartum women and their families affected by substance abuse. This crucial period of pregnancy and childbirth presents a valuable window of opportunity to enhance motivation and encourage women to consider substance abuse treatment.  All family members, as identified by the pregnant or postpartum woman, will be served. Referrals will be accepted up to six months postpartum. Families of women 18 and older will be eligible for participation.

Services Supporting Recovery

TIES provides wrap-around services to support recovery from substance abuse. While staff have a well-informed understanding of addiction and treatment options and are able to provide substantial substance abuse education, substance abuse treatment is not provided by the TIES program. Rather, we address the areas of substance use, physical and mental health for parents and children, positive parenting, and improved housing and economic stability with home-based support, counseling, emergency assistance, and other services to facilitate and encourage substance abuse treatment, relapse prevention and long-term recovery.

Relapse Prevention

While TIES does not provide traditional drug counseling with certified addicition counselors, support for SUD treatment and 12-step programming, encouragement of relapse prevention strategies, and counseling to promote long-term recovery are provided. The focus is on reducing drug use and related areas, such as employment status, legal system involvement, and family/social relations, particularly parenting, and referrals for needed medical, psychiatric, child care and other services.

Successful Outcomes

Successful outcomes will include reduced parental drug use, improved parenting by providing prevention for young children, improved health outcomes for family members, more stable housing and increased economic stability leading to reduced criminal activity.