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Will County Health Department rolls out harm-reduction kits for pregnant people after state review links substance use to maternal deaths
Summary
Health Department staff described a new outreach effort offering 300 harm-reduction kits for pregnant and postpartum people: kits include Narcan, fentanyl test strips, condoms, personal-care items and resource information. The program aims to reach people who avoid prenatal care because of fear of child‑welfare reporting.
Sylvia Muniz, director of Family Health Services for the Will County Health Department, described a new harm‑reduction outreach program focused on pregnant and postpartum people who use substances. The program grew from a 2023 Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) maternal mortality and morbidity report that identified substance use as the leading cause of maternal deaths during 2018–2020.
Muniz said the department received grant funding to assemble and distribute 300 kits that include Narcan, fentanyl test strips, condoms and lubricants, personal‑care items and printed education and referral resources. The kits are intended to reach pregnant people who may avoid prenatal care because they fear child‑welfare involvement, and to provide immediate access to overdose prevention tools and information about local supports.
Why it matters: IDPH data show substance use is a major contributor to maternal mortality; outreach that reduces overdose risk and connects people to resources can affect maternal and infant outcomes.
Muniz described partner organizations involved with the project, including the county—s community health center, WIC, doulas from partner agencies and local counseling providers. She said the health department recently started a peer‑support program and intends to explore ways peers could help reach this population in hospital settings, although peer access inside hospitals is not yet implemented.
Committee members asked operational questions. A member asked whether Narcan in the kits is safe for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding; Muniz replied that Narcan has been used in delivery‑room situations and that the kits are intended for overdose reversal, not routine use. Muniz said Narcan supplied via the distributor carries a practical shelf life of about three years if stored properly.
Members recommended expanding doula and peer supports; Muniz and other staff said doulas and peer support are among the next priorities for program expansion and hospital outreach. The health department also announced other ongoing work, including an integrated referral system (IRIS) five‑year milestone, and a MAP fall forum scheduled for April 25.
Ending: the Health Department will distribute the kits through partner programs and pursue peer and doula integration to improve access for pregnant and postpartum people who use substances. Staff asked committee members to share contacts and participate in forthcoming planning.
