Project LINK provides intensive gender-specific case management services to pregnant, post-partum and parenting women whose lives have been affected by substance use and/or co-occurring disorder. Project LINK reduces a woman's barriers to treatment by providing the following:
Support services include:
- childcare and transportation assistance to attend treatment for mental illness, substance use or co-occurring disorders, support groups, parenting education groups, prenatal and pediatric medical appointments, and other approved appointments.
- provides emotional support and education about substance abuse and mental illness
- provides linkages and referrals to community resources
- offers recreational and social activities for enrolled participants to promote family bonding, reducing community isolation and developing social support networks.
- sponsors educational workshops on a variety of topics, including budgeting, intimate partner violence, nutrition, etc.
- provides a gender-specific parenting group using the Nurturing Parent for Women curriculum: this parenting education group is free and open to the public
- length of enrollment is determined by need and participation in services
Eligibility Criteria: Priority enrollment is given to pregnant women who report using alcohol or other non-prescription drugs during their pregnancy or the immediate 12-months prior to their pregnancy; post-partum women (up to six months post birth) who report using alcohol or other non-prescription drugs either during their pregnancy or within six months after giving birth; women who have a past or current history of substance abuse AND are the custodial parent of a child aged birth through 12.
Secondary Enrollment - parenting women who have lost custody at time of enrollment but are actively working with the Dept. of Social Services to regain custody. If custody is not regained within six months of enrollment, participant will be discharged from program.
Discharge Criteria- Upon completion of service goals; or no longer meet eligibility requirements (e.g., loses custody and does not plan to regain custody or loses parental rights, children exceed age criteria; gives birth but does not keep the baby and has no other children who are age-appropriate, etc.)
Additionally, Project LINK offers a children's case management program called Families Together for children aged birth through seven who are considered at risk of severe emotional disturbances due to parental/caregiver substance abuse or mental health issues. Case managers work with the parent/caregiver to ensure the child is living in a safe and stable home environment and is meeting his/her developmental milestones.