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IMPORTANT LEGACY NOTICE: Legacy Programs have not been reviewed by the current National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). The programs in this database were reviewed only under the previous National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs system. This section is intended to be used for historical reference only. If you would like more information about a program listed here, please contact the program developer directly. The program developer of each Legacy Program listed here agreed to post program information on this site.

Baby SAFE (Substance Abuse Free Environment) Hawaii

Brief Program Description

The Baby S.A.F.E (Substance Abuse Free Environment) program was established by the Maternal and Child Health Branch, Hawaii State Department of Health, in 1990. Funding was provided by the federal Office of Substance Abuse prevention-later renamed OSAP-and the State of Hawaii. The project combines prevention, intervention, and administrative components. The project succeeded in creating a State Council on Chemical Dependency and pregnancy and five specialized committees. The Council consists of 22 members who represent the major public and private agencies responsible for all facets of the substance abuse problem that exists in Hawaii society. The Council has 5 working committees, each responsible for a separate aspect of the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug problems that face pregnant women in Hawaii. The Committees include;

The Legal Affairs Committee
The Professional Education Committee
The Program Development Committee
The Program Evaluation Committee
The Public Awareness Committee

The goals of the program are to:

increase the availability and accessibility of prevention, early intervention, and treatment services for pregnant and post-partum women in Hawaii
Decrease the incidence and prevalence of drug and alcohol use among pregnant and post-partum in Hawaii
Improve birth outcomes for women who use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during pregnancy, and to decrease the number of infants affected by maternal substance use.

Program Strategies

Baby Safe Hawaii (BSH) program development has involved three strategies:

An approach to potential clients aimed at improved well-being, rather than punishment
Creation of extensive networks through which BSH can reach potential clients and can find services for clients
Reliance on networks and committees, rather than on a central organization, to develop policy.

Population Focus

Incidence studies indicate that chemical dependency of women at delivery is highest for low-income and Native Hawaiian women. BSH clients have low incomes (64% of clients for whom data were available were on public assistance and 79% had incomes less than $10,000.) Native Hawaiians form about half of the client population.

Suitable Settings

The program can be implemented at drug treatment sites, health clinics, or other agencies.

Required Resources

The Program developed products to increase public awareness of chemical dependency and pregnancy, to advertise the treatment teams and to track the activities of the teams. The products include Baby Safe Hawaii button, reference cards with phone numbers, flyers for distribution, postcards, pamphlets, and bus posters. A data reporting system was also utilized.

Implementation Timeline

The Baby SAFE program is service intensive. Intervention staff provide each client enrolled in the program with an average of 60 direct service units per month. Service units include contacts in person or by phone, counseling, education and support services aimed either at helping the client participate in BSH activities or achieve a more stable lifestyle.

Outcomes

Major project outcomes include:

Growth in availability and accessibility of services, as indicated by annual increases in BSH caseloads
Increase in the number and share of clients remaining in the program through treatment, delivery, and completion of the program
Improvements in maternal and infant health
Client infants more likely than the comparison group's babies to be classified as "normal" at birth

Contact Information

For indepth information on this program, please use the contact listed below.

Program Developer

Loretta J. Fuddy, A.C.S.W., M.P.H.
Hawaii State Department of Health
Family Health Services Division
1250 Punchbowl St. #216
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-4122
Fax: (808) 586-9303
Email: loretta.fuddy@doh.hawaii.gov

In July 2000, this program was designated as a Promising Program under SAMHSA's previous National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs system.