CHARM Recognition
Children and Recovering Mothers (CHARM) Team
KidSafe Collaborative is honored to be included in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) newly released publication, Healthy Starts: Postpartum OUD Care Transitions for Mother and Infant.
The report highlights Vermont’s Children and Recovering Mothers (CHARM) Team as an evidence-informed approach to coordinate care and support families dealing with opioid use in both clinical and community settings. A true collaborative effort, the CHARM Team, facilitated by KidSafe Collaborative, brings together 15 incredible partner organizations to support pregnant and postpartum individuals and their infants including members working in healthcare, substance use treatment, child welfare, peer recovery, home visiting, early childhood services, public health, and community organizations.
Through monthly case review meetings, partners work together to identify barriers, connect families to services, coordinate care, and strengthen support during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Research shows that CHARM participants start opioid-use disorder treatment earlier and that fewer infants need medication for withdrawal syndrome, emphasizing the benefits of coordinated care models like CHARM for postpartum support.
“The CHARM Team was built on the belief that families are best served when systems work together. Having participated in the CHARM Team for many years, I have seen firsthand the difference that collaboration can make for families. This recognition reflects the commitment of partners across Vermont who have dedicated their time, expertise, and compassion to supporting parents, infants, and caregivers.” - Meghan Masterson, Executive Director of KidSafe Collaborative.
