Population Health Research Brief Series

Launched in February 2019, our Population Health Research Brief Series highlights pressing health topics. Written by the Center’s staff, Graduate Fellows, Faculty Affiliates, and community partners, this series will inform you on happenings in our local community and illustrate issues and trends relating to social determinants of population health. Sign up for the Population Health Research Brief Series here.

Mother Cabrini Grant: Implementing and Evaluating the Efficacy of a New Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Plan of Safe Care

The project aims to increase health provider education surrounding the successful development of Plans of Safe Care (POSC) for mothers with addiction and babies who were exposed to opioids prior to birth. The project has two components: 1) Develop and provide educational workshops that will target healthcare providers most likely to work with mothers in need of developing a plan of safe care, including clinicians, therapists/counselors, social workers, community health works, and addiction treatment specialists. The workshops will educate these individuals on the legal mandates of POSC, how to appropriately and thoroughly develop a plan, and guide them toward referrals sources, and 2) collect hospital level data related to the implementation of POSC and analyze the fidelity with which they are being completed. This will allow partner agencies and hospitals across Onondaga County and New York State to develop policies and practices that best meet the needs of women, babies, and their families. Shannon Monnat, Lerner Chair for Public Health Promotion is the Principal Investigator. Alexandra Punch, the Associate Director of the Lerner Center, is a Co-Investigator on this project.

Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant: New York Opioid Court Treatment Enhancement Project

This goal of this project is to evaluate various New York State opioid courts to establish effective treatments for those recovering from substance use disorders (SUDs). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy treatments that the courts will implement include: journaling and moral recognition therapy (MRT). Evaluating the efficacy of the opioid courts will establish effective means to support those who are in recovery.

National Well-being Survey

Over the past several months, our team has been identifying community needs surrounding well-being. In the preliminary stages, we conducted an expansive literature review on social determinants of health. Now, we are developing a comprehensive survey based on validated measures to assess individual’s perceptions of his or her overall well-being. We will use the results of the survey to inform the creation of a new Healthy Monday initiative.