This program deals with the life-threatening risk factors of poverty, family conflict and drug behavior. Mothers learn parenting and employment skills and receive on-site healthcare. Participating mothers have reduced alcohol and drug use, experienced births with fewer complications, decreased hospital days at delivery, decreased arrests and increased employment. Participating mothers report decreased depression and decreased parenting stress. For their infants, child abuse and neglect have decreased, and growth and development have improved.
Older children show increased ability to resist using drugs or alcohol.
A 1991 study showed that 11 percent of pregnant women receiving prenatal care or delivery services at UAMS Medical Center tested positive for illicit drug use. Other major funding sources include the Arkansas Department of Health, City of Little Rock, Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, and Junior League of Little Rock. Pre-term birth is associated with low birth weight and neonatal intensive care. In FY 1995, the state spent only 3 percent of alcohol and drug treatment dollars on women with their children. Less than 1 percent was spent on care for pregnant, addicted women.