Component a: engaging social workers in preventing alcohol- and other substance-exposed pregnancies - alcohol and other substance use during pregnancy is a leading public health issue

At over 715,000 strong, social work is the largest provider of mental and behavioral health services. Social workers can play a key role in primary prevention of substance-exposed pregnancies. The health behavior research and training institute (hbrt) at the university of texas steve hicks school of social work has over two decades of experience in working with the CDC and other federal and local partners to develop and disseminate programs to prevent substance-exposed pregnancies (seps). Since 2014, hbrt has collaborated with the national association of social workers (nasw) to reach social work professionals. Nasw is largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with over 120,000 members and 56 chapters. Nasw members practice social work in a broad range of public and private settings, providing services to people who are or might be pregnant in health care, substance use, mental health, human services, schools, and child welfare fields of practice. Together, hbrt and nasw have demonstrated the capacity for - and a proven record of success in - developing, coordinating, and carrying out effective strategies to disseminate SEP messaging and clinical prevention practices to social work practitioners nationwide. In the proposed project, we will partner to: participate in a cohesive, multidisciplinary fasd champions network; develop and disseminate evidence-based SEP messaging through nasw state and national communications platforms; expand community, state and local capacity to address prenatal substance use through our current hospital partnerships; evaluate program strategies, including nasw membership knowledge and practices; and implement innovative, updated methods to inform and educate social workers about prenatal substance use. These strategies will allow US to arm thousands of social work practitioners with the evidence-based messaging, tools and skills to help prevent SEP in the diverse populations that they serve.