CHARM Team

Children and Recovering Mothers Team (CHARM)

mother kissing the head of her newborn baby

About CHARM

CHARM Connects: Women who are expecting or have recently delivered babies and have a history of opioid use disorder with coordinated prenatal care and substance abuse treatment – to improve health for both mothers and babies. 
The need – one example: A single woman has learned that she is pregnant. She is overjoyed but also worried – she has a history of substance abuse.  In her case, the substance is Oxycontin, a prescription painkiller that is highly addictive. She’s tried treatment before. This time, she is much more motivated to stay with treatment, but can she? KidSafe brings together a team that will support her health progress and track her attendance at pre-natal care and substance abuse counseling. Any obstacles to her attendance will be identified and addressed – issues like a lack of transportation.
The goal: improved health for mom and baby.

A CHARM Meeting:

  • Supports these mothers while they are highly motivated toward improved health for their babies and for themselves – a positive note amid Vermont’s opiates crisis;
  • Brings together a range of service providers including health care professionals from the University of Vermont Medical Center, the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) and others;
  • Encourages mothers to stay with their substance abuse treatment, get good prenatal care, and in the end, be able to safely mother their newborns.
concerned mother with baby
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