Weave West Virginia – Training Series Announcement

WEAVE WEST VIRGINIA TRAINING SERIES Join our virtual training series on domestic violence, substance use, and substance use coercion with a special focus on better serving pregnant and postpartum survivors, and their families. These six sessions focus on supporting survivors navigating legal issues and housing resources. March 12 to April 16, 2024 Tuesdays from 12-1pm EDT   Recent news Weave ... Read More

Controversial Fetal Assault Law Discontinued by TN Lawmakers

From NPR, “A small but pivotal group of Tennessee representatives voted Tuesday to discontinue one of the state’s most divisive criminal laws. Known as “fetal assault,” the measure empowered prosecutors to arrest women who abuse heroin or pain pills during pregnancy, if their babies were born dependent. A one-of-a-kind statute that criminalized drug use by pregnant women is now on … Read More

Senate advances bill to aid drug-dependent newborns

From Reuters, “A bipartisan bill designed to improve the health and safety of babies born to mothers who used heroin or other opioids during pregnancy was approved by a U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday. …Reuters found 110 cases of children who were exposed to opioids while in the womb and who later died preventable deaths at home. No more than nine states comply … Read More

Recovery Point of Charleston dedicates Stockton Street building

From the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “Rachel Thaxton, program coordinator of Recovery Point of Charleston, said the facility will start the bidding process on the project within the next month, and will likely begin construction within six weeks after the bids close. The main building will have 92 treatment beds, which will be opened about 10 beds at a time initially, and … Read More

DHHR Launches New Initiative to Address Smoking While Pregnant

From the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “A new initiative to address West Virginia’s staggering smoking rates among pregnant women launched on Wednesday, and represents the first of its kind in the nation to focus on the problem, which plagues West Virginia more than any other state. …Karen Bowling, secretary of the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources, said the purpose of … Read More

Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015 Signed Into Law

From ACOG, “The bipartisan bill, introduced by Rep. Katherine Clark (D- Mass.) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), takes proactive steps to help reduce the number of newborns born exposed to drugs, such as opioids, and to improve their care. Specifically, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to identify and make available recommendations for the prevention … Read More

In TN, Giving Birth To A Drug-Dependent Baby Can Be A Crime

From NPR, “In the United States, a baby is born dependent on opiates every 30 minutes. In Tennessee, the rate is three times the national average. The drug withdrawal in newborns is called neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS, which can occur when women take opiates during their pregnancies. In the spring of 2014, Tennessee passed a controversial law that would … Read More

2015 WV Perinatal Summit Presentations & Photos

On November 5 & 6 2015 the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership held its annual Summit at the Charleston Marriott Town Center. View the 2015 West Virginia Perinatal Summit program and presentations. There is nothing to show here! Slider with alias 2015-Summit-Images not found.

New Report Finds WV Leads Nation in Drug Overdose Deaths

From The Charleston Gazette, “West Virginia has the highest rate of overdose deaths in the U.S., according to a report released Wednesday, further spotlighting Appalachia’s festering drug abuse problem that is also fueling a rise in hepatitis C in one of the nation’s poorest regions. There were about 34 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 West Virginia residents from 2011-13, up … Read More

Protecting Our Infants Act Co-Sponsored by Sen. Ayotte

From Political News, “U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) announced that she is co-sponsoring legislation being introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a strategy to address the alarming number of infants diagnosed with newborn withdrawal after being exposed to opioids while … Read More