PROUD | Postpartum Warning Signs: Understanding Relapse Risk and Strengthening Care for Postpartum Women in Recovery | Part 1 – 9/1/26

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) are hosting a multipart education series, PROUD: Strengthening Care for Parents in Recovery. Parents Recovering from Opioid and Other Use Disorders (PROUD) is a SAMHSA-funded program of DMHAS.

The postpartum period is a critical time for women and birthing people in recovery from substance use disorders (SUD), when changes in clinical contact, treatment engagement, family responsibilities, and other stressors can increase vulnerability to return to substance use and adverse maternal outcomes.

This 90-minute webinar will examine the clinical context for postpartum relapse risk, including key behavioral, social, and clinical risk factors; Connecticut maternal mortality data; and longitudinal perinatal substance use disorder trends. The session will distinguish active perinatal substance exposure from longer-term recovery needs and address maternal and infant outcomes, Department of Children and Families (DCF) involvement, and continuity of treatment and recovery supports.

Clinical considerations will include universal validated substance use screening compared with urine toxicology testing and the importance of non-stigmatizing, patient-centered communication in supporting trust and engagement.

Presenter:
Ariadna Forray, MD, Access Mental Health and Substance Use for Moms

To register for any session in the series, visit the PROUD Trainings webpage at cthosp.org/education/proud. Continuing Education (CE) credits are pending approval. CE status, presenter bios, and session details will be updated on each of the registration pages.

These sessions are designed for physicians, nurses, social workers, quality professionals, risk managers, healthcare executives, doulas, and all healthcare professionals working with patients impacted by substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health conditions.