$1.9 Million Grant Awarded to San Bernardino County Department of Public Health for Perinatal Screening, Assessment, Referral, and Treatment

SB County News Reports

December 2, 2010

San Bernardino. The County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health has received a First 5 San Bernardino Grant to provide Perinatal Screening, Assessment, Referral, and Treatment (PSART) Program services to pregnant women residing in the County. First 5 San Bernardino has awarded the Department of Public Health $1,971,681 through its Desired Results Request for Proposals 10-01, to decrease the number of babies born exposed to alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco. Collaborating with the Department of Public Health helps First 5 San Bernardino further its goals for women to deliver healthy babies and for children and families to achieve optimal health and development. First 5 San Bernardino created the grant to proactively reach out to the growing needs of families with children ages 0-5 in the County.

The grant specifically supports the healthy development of young children, helps prepare them to succeed in school, ensures families are safe and healthy, and helps build systems that are responsive to local needs. “We are pleased to have the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health meet this critical need in our community. The partnership will go a long way in nurturing the health and wellbeing of our community’s youngest members,” said Karen Scott, Executive Director of First 5 San Bernardino. PSART is an intervention program dedicated to the prevention of perinatal substance use in the County of San Bernardino. It is a core component of the Partnership for Healthy Babies, which is a collaboration including the Department of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Health, and more than 50 private healthcare providers throughout the County.

The Partnership for Healthy Babies seeks to assist women in reducing their abuse of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco during pregnancy to improve birth outcomes. Participating health care providers screen pregnant women for the use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco; provide health education to active substance users about the potential risks to them and their babies; and refer women to the Departments of Public Health and/or Behavioral Health for further assessment and assistance with entry into treatment care. The program also provides services to the children (under the age of one year) of tobacco and substance users. For further information on the Partnership for Healthy Babies, contact Loretta Schnaus, Supervising Public Health Nurse, at 909-388-0491, or at lschnaus@dph.sbcounty.gov.