• The Cases of Mrs. A and Mrs. B

This page shows the outlines of the Virtual Case Studies that form the material for discussions in the UNITE Project. The Virtual Case Studies are organized around contacts with the medical system. The case studies refer to fictional programs that provide services for the children and mothers including case management. Descriptions of the programs are provided here to facilitate understanding of their programmatic approaches to women using alcohol or drugs in the prenatal period. 

The New Steps Program receives referrals of mothers and babies identified with alcohol and drug exposure at the time of delivery. Mothers with drug or alcohol use during pregnancy are discovered by disclosure on the part of the mothers or by positive urine toxicology screens. The program provides an interdisciplinary clinical team that delivers comprehensive pediatric care, developmental assessments and interventions, social support and counseling, and legal support. Families enrolled in the New Steps Program have an identified primary care pediatrician for their children. The pediatrician tries to see as many of the enrolled children as possible when they are acutely ill. For emergency illnesses, the faculty pediatricians in the Pediatric Outpatient Department provide on-call coverage every night of the year. Some of the mothers and babies in the New Steps Program are referred from a closely related program, the Mariposa Program. The Mariposa Program identifies pregnant women with alcohol or drug use problems. The program provides comprehensive prenatal obstetrical care, individual and group counseling, Methadone dispensing for pregnant women on Methadone maintenance, and off-site pediatric clinics with developmental services for the children directed at children without acute illnesses. The clinicians of the New Step Program refer women to the Mariposa Program when a pregnant woman is found to use alcohol or drugs. 

Each of the cases has a Simulation Summary, Process Themes, and Points for discussion. The Case Study of Liana Paul has multiple parts and each part has its own Simulation Summary, Process Themes and Points for Discussion. The discussion for each case will be found on the Web Caucus link to the Northern Arizona Virtual Conferencing Center.