The CHoSEN Collaborative convenes a forum twice a year to foster idea-sharing and community collaboration for professionals working on improving outcomes for women and families affected by perinatal substance use and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). This year, the fall forum was held in Glennwood Springs, Colorado to better accommodate Western Slope attendees.  

More than seventy attendees began their day hearing CHoSEN QIC updates directly from subject matter experts Dr. Susan Hwang, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Neonatologist Children’s Hospital Colorado and University Hospital; CPCQC Executive Committee  Member, SEN Steering Committee Member Jaime Cabrera, MPH, Executive Director of CPCQC, SEN Steering Committee Member; and Jade Woodard, Executive Director of Illuminate Colorado and Co-Chair the SEN Steering Committee. 

The day also included two keynote addresses, first from Dr. Susanne Klawetter, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Portland State University, who highlighted the importance of using trauma-informed approaches given the prevalence of childhood trauma among mothers with a substance use disorder.    

After several presentations from hospitals participating in CHoSEN QIC and a discussion of barriers and facilitators to CHoSEN QIC implementation, clinicians received the final keynote address of the day from Dr. Ryan Jackman, St. Mary's Medical Center Faculty, Family Medicine Residency Medical Director, Integrated Addiction Medicine on treatment and recovery continuum on the West Slope. 

The next CHoSEN Forum is scheduled for May 12th in the Denver metro area.  ​

The Substance Exposed Newborns (SEN) Provider Education Work Group is excited to announce the creation of the Colorado Perinatal Substance Use Provider Toolkit, made possible with support from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Evidence-based and inclusive resources provided include clinical guidelines and recommendations, data and epidemiology, and patient handouts and resources, bringing the latest from sources such as ACOG, AAP, and CDC.

Providers can find tools and resources related to:

• patient identification and communication,
• substance use disorder treatment,
• lactation, management of substance-specific impacts,
• community referrals,
• patient education and more!

​This searchable online toolkit provides hundreds of resources related to perinatal substance use.