Cross-sectoral collaboration working with perinatal women who use substances: outcomes and lessons from HerWay Home

ABSTRACT

HerWay Home is a multi-service drop-in and outreach program women for with substance use issues and who also may be affected by mental illness, trauma, and/or violence. Philosophical foundations of the program include harm reduction and being relationship-based and trauma-informed. This article presents the program’s evaluation findings related to cross-sectoral service collaborations and outcomes for service partners as well as for women and families, including prevention of children going into care. For service partners, HerWay Home provided peace of mind, knowing that vulnerable women’s needs would be met and also led to increased understanding about substance-using women and best practice approaches.

KEYWORDS:

• Integrated service
• marginalized populations
• perinatal women
• program evaluation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

¹ Second stage housing is supported, temporary housing for women and children who have recently experienced violence.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.