Policy Options: Early Intervention Services for Substance-Exposed Infants

Abstract

Substance-exposed infants, or babies that have been victims of their mothers' drug use during pregnancy, have reached substantial proportions. Currently, no comprehensive public policy exists to deal with these infants as they enter a society unprepared to respond to an issue increasingly fraught with substantial adverse economic, social, and political ramifications. In order to address the needs of this emerging sub-population, California's governor and state legislature must develop and adopt a concerted interagency policy which outlines: a) uniform criteria for local health care workers, social service agencies, and educators; b) consistent guidelines governing the exchange of information among a range of agencies, including hospitals, schools, and other public and private agencies; and c) increased prevention and early intervention services for these babies and their families. Addressing the needs of these infants requires a bold, comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach from the creators of public policy.