Hushabye Nursery expands opioid support services to Mohave County families

Hushabye Nursery is making waves in Mohave County with its innovative approach to caring for infants affected by the opioid crisis. During a recent Board of Health meeting, Shauna Anderson, representing the nursery, highlighted their mission to provide compassionate care for substance-exposed infants and their families, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and support.

Located in Phoenix, Hushabye Nursery has expanded its services into Mohave County through a grant, offering both outpatient behavioral health services for pregnant and parenting individuals and an inpatient withdrawal center for infants. Anderson explained that their model focuses on engaging families as soon as they learn about their pregnancy, connecting them with essential resources and support systems.

A key highlight of Hushabye's approach is the "Eat, Sleep, Console" model, which allows infants to receive one-on-one care during withdrawal without the need for medication in most cases. This method has resulted in a significantly shorter average hospital stay of just 9.3 days, compared to the typical 22 days for infants treated in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Anderson noted that only 7.3% of babies transferred to Hushabye require medication, a stark contrast to the 98% of NICU infants who receive morphine.

The nursery's success is not just measured in days spent in care but also in the positive outcomes for families. With 76% of families working with Hushabye going home safely with their infants, the nursery is proving to be a vital resource in breaking the cycle of trauma and addiction. Anderson emphasized the importance of keeping families together, as children in foster care face increased risks of negative outcomes later in life.

Hushabye Nursery's model not only supports the health of infants but also offers significant cost savings. The average cost per infant at Hushabye is approximately $11,000, compared to nearly $76,000 for a NICU stay. This financial efficiency, combined with their focus on family-centered care, positions Hushabye as a sustainable model for addressing the challenges posed by the opioid epidemic.

As the meeting concluded, the board members expressed interest in the data supporting these outcomes, highlighting the nursery's potential as a model for similar initiatives across the state. Hushabye Nursery continues to pave the way for innovative care solutions, ensuring that every baby has the chance for a healthy start in life.