Sec. 07.02.08.01. Purpose and Goals

A. The purpose of the Substance-Exposed Newborns Program is to address the needs of infants born with and identified as being affected by prenatal exposure to controlled substances or by a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) by:

(1) Requiring health care practitioners who deliver or care for substance-exposed newborns to make a report to a local department of social services;

(2) Assessing the safety of, and risk to, substance-exposed newborns;

(3) Developing a plan of safe care for substance-exposed newborns if necessary; and

(4) Referring the family for appropriate services.

B. The goals of the Substance-Exposed Newborns Program are to:

(1) Provide for the safe discharge of substance-exposed newborns from the hospital;

(2) Assist the mother, and other family members, in obtaining treatment related to alcohol or drug use or any other appropriate services or resources that may be needed to address child safety; and

(3) Generate accurate reports to assist in the evaluation of this program.