This is hard.

Being a mom is tough but so are you.

If you are using alcohol, marijuana and/or other drugs to cope with stress or trauma, you are not alone. Support is available so you can be the strongest mom possible.

Why is TAAM Needed?

Since 1999, the number of pregnant women diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) has increased by more than fourfold in Oklahoma. In 2018 there were 1,040 women who gave birth in state-licensed facilities to infants affected by withdrawal symptoms and 70% of them were not connected with substance use treatment following delivery.

In addition to the impact substance use during pregnancy has on newborns, parental substance use is one of the leading causes of children being placed in out-of-home care. In 2021 parental alcohol or substance abuse was an identified condition of over half of removals in Oklahoma, placing the state higher than the national average of the proportion of removals due to substance abuse.

Substance use during and after pregnancy also significantly increases the odds of maternal-related mortality. More than two-thirds of the people who died of mental health-related causes within a year of giving birth had a history or current indication of substance use.

The need for connecting pregnant and parenting mothers with substance use issues to comprehensive, specialized care tailored for them is clear. However, due to societal stigma and perceptions of mothers with substance use disorder, this priority population has been difficult to reach and oftentimes reluctant to seek treatment.

What to Expect

Why Get Help

Find a Provider

What does starting recovery look like?

Getting support and treatment is a sign of strength.

Disclosing substance use does not mean you will lose your child or your children. In fact, there are treatment programs where your children can be with you while you get support.
Substance use treatment providers are not part of the court or child welfare systems.
Pregnant women and mothers with young children get first priority. This means that if there is a wait list, you go to the front of the line to receive treatment. Find support here.
Your treatment will be confidential and judgment-free.
You can get support and be in treatment with other pregnant women, or with mothers like you who have children at home.
Treatment providers can be your advocates. They speak up for you and support you during your recovery. There is strength in being vulnerable and asking for their help. Your Family Care Plan can keep a record of their support, acting as a “recovery resume” documenting all the steps you are taking on your recovery journey.

Why get help

Motherhood is hard. Your children need you, but they need you to be healthy first. Substance use doesn’t have to get the best of you. Many people do not understand why or how someone, especially a mother, becomes dependent on drugs and alcohol. They might assume that a mother’s love for her children should be enough for her to stop using drugs. They don’t understand that substance use disorder is a disease. In reality, quitting takes way more than good intentions or a strong will—it takes the right medical treatment and therapeutic support.

You’re not alone. Motherhood is never going to be easy, but it can be better. The sooner you ask for support, the quicker you can get medical help that treats your mind and body.

Substance use disorder is a medical issue, not a moral shortcoming. It’s ok to admit that you are struggling. Like other medical problems, substance use will harm your health until it gets treated. Through scientific advances, we know more about how drugs work in the brain than ever before, and we better understand how to treat substance use disorder in women. Get the treatment you deserve, so that you can be healthy, well, and the strongest mom possible.

Pregnant?

Pregnancy can be an exciting, overwhelming and stressful time for many women, and if you are using alcohol or drugs you may feel particularly overwhelmed and afraid to seek help. It takes courage to ask for support.

If you use substances while pregnant, there are risks to both you and the fetus, therefore it is particularly important to seek support during this time and not go on this journey alone. Certain detox methods during pregnancy can be very risky for the fetus and treatment is critical to both you and your baby’s health. A physician or treatment provider can give you medication to help prevent withdrawal so that your fetus can develop as healthy as possible.

If you are struggling with opioid use it is important to know that opioid use disorder can be managed with medications and counseling, and you can have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. The benefits of taking medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) far outweigh the risks of not treating your OUD.

Treating Opioid Use During Pregnancy

What is a Family Care Plan?

The Family Care Plan is a way for you to advocate for yourself, your family, and even your unborn child. It’s a living document that helps to coordinate services and record your progress. And the best part is that YOU are in charge of leading the process.

A Family Care Plan is completely customized to your recovery journey, and acts as the following:

A personalized guide to ensure the necessary resources are provided to help your family thrive.
A “recovery resume” or diary that helps communicate your strengths, needs, accomplishments and goals to providers.
A tool to help with care coordination between multiple providers or organizations.
A resource to keep everything organized and stored in one place.

Being a mom is tough – we’re here to help.

Find a local family care plan provider

Family Care Plan Questions

When do I make a Family Care Plan?

A Family Care Plan can be developed anytime. Ideally, it should be developed before or during your pregnancy. The earlier you start a Family Care Plan, the more time you have to prepare for your baby with support.

If a Family Care Plan has not been started during pregnancy, it should be developed as soon as possible after delivery of your baby,

If you are not pregnant but have a dependent child(ren), connecting with treatment and beginning a FCP as soon as possible provides the best outcomes.

Regardless of when you begin your FCP, be sure to work with your providers to update your Family Care Plan with new information to highlight your progress.

Who can benefit from a Family Care Plan?

The Family Care Plan was originally designed for women with current or a history of substance use and their infants who may have been exposed to substances during pregnancy. However, we have found that many people can benefit from using this tool, especially parents with dependent children who are trying to coordinate care across multiple systems, services, and providers or have prior or current experience with:

Who should be involved in creating and updating my Family Care Plan?

A Family Care Plan should include input from all service providers involved in your care and the care of your child(ren).

Find Support

Each mom’s circumstances and needs are different, which is why we recommend finding a provider that fits your needs and then talking with someone who can support you in developing the best plan for you and your family. Take a step towards recovery today by connecting with a provider here.

Interested in sharing your recovery story?

Learn how you can help other mothers get support with the power of your story.

Questions Moms Have

Can I get help with childcare while getting support or while I am in treatment?

If you qualify for halfway house or residential treatment, your child(ren) under 12 may be able to come along with you while you receive your treatment. If outpatient treatment is determined to be the level of care you are in need of you may be able to bring your children to the program or group, or childcare may be available. Be sure to ask your treatment provider about childcare options.

What is the difference between residential and outpatient treatment?

In Oklahoma, residential treatment means that you reside at the place where you are receiving support and treatment.

There are also 24/7 environments offered through living at a “halfway house.” This is a less restrictive environment and less treatment hours than the residential treatment discussed above.

Outpatient treatment means you continue living at home while receiving treatment.

Your treatment provider will conduct an assessment with you to determine which level of care you qualify for and best suits your treatment needs.

How will I pay for formula, diapers, food and other things my children might need while I’m in treatment?

Some treatment programs provide diapers and formula to their clients. In other cases, WIC and , food stamps (SNAP), or program fees may cover these items. Learn more about Oklahoma’s WIC program and other state benefits that are available to families.

Learn More

Will Medicaid cover my treatment?

All of the providers listed on the find a provider map accept Medicaid.

If you are not on Medicaid, these programs offer flexible payment plans and a sliding scale to make sure the cost of treatment is never a barrier between you and your health.

Pregnant women who are eligible for Oklahoma Medicaid can get treatment covered for free through Soonercare.

Can you help me if I’m involved with child welfare or court systems?

Yes. Your substance use treatment program is not part of either system, but your counselors and treatment providers can help with advocacy, and provide linkage with Legal Aid should legal support be needed, and assist you with the development of a family care plan.

Can my family be involved in treatment?

Your family can be involved in your treatment so long as you are comfortable with their participation.
It’s up to you how much information you share with your friends and family. Your treatment provider will protect your privacy and not share information about your treatment with anyone without your consent.

What if I have another question not answered here?

Please reach out to TAAMOK@odmhsas.org if you have any additional questions.