For pregnant women struggling with addiction, Zepf Center’s Maternal Opiate Medical Supports (MOMS) program provides tools, resources and programs vital to the well-being of the mother and child.
Zepf Center is working in partnership with the State of Ohio to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes, increase family stability and reduce the cost of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) to Ohio's Medicaid program.
"[The MOMS program] taught me how to navigate motherhood and my recovery at the same time,” said one participant. “After having my son, they made sure I was okay mentally and physically. They really helped me keep it together.”
The MOMS program is proud to provide hope for expecting mothers through coordination of care and wrap-around services using the Maternity Care Home (MCH) model of care. This model includes pre- and post-natal care, counseling, medication-assisted treatment, recovery support and care management.
When diagnosed with substance use disorders, mothers can face overwhelming stigma. The MOMS Program at Zepf Center provides a place for clients to speak openly about their experiences while gaining valuable social connections and access to community resources that allow them to thrive.
The MOMS program provides trauma-informed care and recognizes the impact that generational trauma and substance use have on the most marginalized populations. The program’s success is attributed to its focus on harm reduction, cultural competence and strengths-based treatment.
"I am passionate about advocating for the rights of my clients to receive treatment and be given an opportunity to raise their families,” said MOMS Case Manager Jacqueline Strack. “Since joining the MOMS Program in 2021, I have had the privilege of serving some of the most brave and resilient women in our community."
This program is offered cost-free to mothers and support is available from conception until the child reaches two years of age. Program participants work with Zepf Center staff who are experts in the fields of healthy parenting, child development, neonatal abstinence syndrome, nutrition, smoking cessation, medication compliance, wellness practices and child safety.
Through weekly support meetings in a non-judgmental, trauma-informed care setting, participants gain access to transportation for related appointments, connection with related services and agencies, baby essentials and improved maternal and fetal outcomes.
For more information or to be referred to the MOMS program, please call 419.841.7701 x 6152.