Promising Practice
Team for Infants Exposed to Substance use (TIES) Program
State/Jurisdiction: Kansas Missouri
Setting: Community Home
Population: Families & Caregivers Infant Women & Maternal
Topic Area: Mental Health & Substance Use Care Coordination
NPMs:
The Team for Infants Exposed to Substance Use (TIES) Program is an intensive, home-based intervention designed to support pregnant and postpartum women and their families affected by maternal substance use. The program operates in Kansas City, KS, and Kansas City, MO, offering holistic, individualized services that address both immediate needs and long-term family stability. By focusing on relationship-building, individualized goal-setting, and family-driven interventions, the TIES Program has demonstrated success in improving family outcomes and strengthening community networks.
The Need
Maternal substance use can have significant impacts on both maternal and child health, including increased risks of preterm birth, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and challenges in early childhood development. Many affected families also experience co-occurring challenges such as housing instability, mental health concerns, intimate partner violence, and economic insecurity. The TIES program is designed to address these complex needs by providing wraparound services that promote healthy family functioning and break the cycle of intergenerational substance use.
Key Population
• Pregnant women and mothers with infants under six months of age who have a history of substance use and are willing to engage in supportive services.
• Families residing in target zip codes in Kansas City, KS, and Kansas City, MO.
• Mothers who are at least 18 years old and have custody of their child or whose child is in relative care.
The TIES Program aims to: a) decrease maternal substance use; b) improve parenting skills and capacity to support child development; c) improve access to/use of children’s health/mental health care; d) improve access to/use of parental health/mental health care; e) increase access to adequate, stable income; and f) increase access to stable, safe, and affordable housing. Participants are enrolled in the program for at least 18 months, ideally enrolling during the prenatal period, and are discharged when their child reaches 24 months of age.
Background Information
The TIES Program has been implemented and refined over several decades, incorporating best practices from home-visiting models, early childhood development research, and harm reduction approaches. The program uses a two-role model, with each family receiving support from:
1. Family Support Specialists, who focus on case management, behavioral health, transportation, and community linkages.
2. Parent Resource Specialists, who provide guidance to enhance parent-child interactions, screen for developmental delays, and support parenting education.
Participation in the program is voluntary and free of charge, with referrals coming from hospitals, community partners, child welfare agencies, and self-referrals. The program collaborates with a consortium of referral partners to ensure a seamless intake process and ongoing support for families.
The Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Implementation & Policy Hub project is supported by the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) and Perigee Fund. The content presented is the responsibility of the featured practices and policies and does not necessarily reflect the views of FORE, Perigee Fund, or AMCHP.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Children's Mercy Kansas City
Emma Sexton
ecsexton@cmh.edu
Practice Website
For more information about this practice, please email evidence@amchp.org