Comparing Pregnant and Postpartum Client and Provider Feedback on a Digital Health Intervention for Substance Use Recovery: User-Centered Design Approach Background: Mobile health (mHealth) interventions can expand access to and engagement in lifesaving treatment for pregnant and postpartum people with a substance use disorder. Yet, many people with lived experience and substance use providers alike are often excluded from mHealth intervention development, limiting opportunities to provide feedback on critical design components such as #usability, cultural relevance, and compatibility with real-world practice. Objective: The study engaged pregnant and postpartum people and substance use providers in a formative evaluation to refine an mHealth intervention designed to support recovery. Methods: Pregnant and postpartum participants (n=11) and providers working in recovery settings (n=13) across Missouri reviewed the same mHealth intervention. Participants completed a survey and semistructured qualitative questions on #usability and compatibility after reviewing the same mHealth intervention. Survey responses and qualitative themes were compared across groups. Post hoc analyses examined differences between pregnant and postpartum participants who had used the app and those who had not (n=8) to identify barriers to participation. Results: Both participant groups reported similar themes related to the #usability and compatibility of the mHealth intervention, including a need for simplified navigation and greater personalization of app content. The e-coaching feature and directory of recovery-focused resources were viewed as valuable by both groups. Uniquely, pregnant and postpartum participants emphasized the need for app content addressing craving management, emotional triggers, and parenting stress. These participants also requested more frequent communication with the e-coach than providers recommended. Nonapp users differed from app users by race, education, and household characteristics, underscoring structural barriers to engagement. Conclusions: Engaging both pregnant and postpartum people and providers in formative evaluation reveals overlapping and distinct priorities for mHealth design. Findings highlight that user-informed development is essential for improving #usability, engagement, and recovery outcomes, including reaching those least likely to engage with traditional or digital treatment supports.

JMIR Formative Res: Comparing Pregnant and Postpartum Client and Provider Feedback on a Digital Health Intervention for Substance Use Recovery: User-Centered Design Approach #SubstanceUseRecovery #mHealth #PregnancySupport #PostpartumCare #UserCenteredDesign

HCA says Medicaid reentry waiver is scaling up; dozens of county and DOC facilities to join July 1 HCA told the advisory committee that Apple Health began covering targeted prerelease services in July 2025 and that cohorts of jails and juvenile facilities have launched; HCA expects many Department of Corrections sites and 15 additional facilities to join a July 1 cohort, while noting technical, contracting and billing challenges for some counties.

Washington's Medicaid program is set to transform reentry services for incarcerated youth and adults, promising a lifeline of support as they prepare for release.

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#WA #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #SubstanceUseRecovery #ReentryServices

Committee approves $140,000 in opioid-settlement funds for recovery coach and grants The committee unanimously approved a $140,000 special appropriation from opioid‑settlement funds to hire a recovery coach in the Norwalk Police Department and to fund grants to local substance‑use disorder organizations; staff said state law restricts the use of these dollars to prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery.

Norwalk is set to boost its fight against substance-use disorders with a $140,000 funding for a recovery coach and local grants, thanks to opioid settlement funds!

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#NorwalkCityFairfield #CT #CitizenPortal #NorwalkSubstanceUse #PublicHealthFunding #SubstanceUseRecovery

Cape Girardeau board approves DESE/DMH grant to launch recovery high school After an extended presentation and discussion about enrollment, staffing and optics, the Cape Girardeau Public Schools board authorized the superintendent to accept a multi-year grant from DESE and the Department of Mental Health to establish a recovery high school serving students in the district and region.

Cape Girardeau Public Schools is set to launch a recovery high school, offering a vital lifeline for students battling substance use disorders with a unique, voluntary enrollment model.

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#MO #CapeGirardeauPublicSchools #CitizenPortal #EducationInnovation #SubstanceUseRecovery

Recovery Connections outlines peer‑led centers, 24/7 helpline and mobile support for Brevard Recovery Connections told the Together in Partnership Committee it will open a recovery center in Brevard and deploy mobile peer support teams; the group described retention, participant counts and partnerships in four counties.

Recovery Connections is set to revolutionize recovery support in Brevard County with new peer-led centers, a 24/7 helpline, and mobile support teams ready to meet individuals where they are.

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#BrevardCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #PeerSupportNetwork #SubstanceUseRecovery

Spokane District Court outlines mental-health court as treatment-focused alternative; referral line provided Jeff Smith, who presides over therapeutic courts in Spokane District Court, described the court's mental health program, its five-phase structure, typical 14–24 month timeline, available support services and a referral phone line. He said grant funding covers testing and monitoring and sometimes treatment.

Discover how Spokane's therapeutic court is transforming lives by prioritizing mental health treatment over traditional prosecution.

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#SpokaneCounty #WA #CivicSupportServices #CitizenPortal #MentalHealthTreatment #SubstanceUseRecovery

Behavioral Health updates: mobile crisis funding risk, opioid settlement projects, CalAIM housing supports Lake County Behavioral Health reported potential state budget changes that could shift mobile crisis costs to counties, outlined opioid settlement‑funded projects including a 16‑bed ASAM facility and youth intensive outpatient program, discussed repayment of intergovernmental loans, and said it plans to opt into CalAIM transitional housing supports.

Lake County is facing a potential funding crisis for mobile crisis services that could jeopardize vital mental health programs—find out how local leaders plan to tackle this challenge!

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#LakeCounty #CA #SubstanceUseRecovery #LakeCountyBehavioralHealth #CrisisResponse

Health Department seeks to expand recovery residences and embed outreach staff in shelters The Department of Health described plans to expand residential treatment, recovery residences and recovery‑oriented shelters, seek $1.2M in new recovery housing funding and embed outreach and engagement workers and recovery coaches in shelter settings.

The Vermont Department of Health is pushing to expand recovery housing and embed outreach staff to combat homelessness among those with substance use disorders.

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#VT #CommunityOutreach #VermontPublicHealth #HousingAccessibility #SubstanceUseRecovery #CitizenPortal

Patients and recovery advocates press committee to remove barriers to non‑opioid pain treatments SB 5,916 would bar prescription policies that disadvantage non‑opioid drugs when opioids are preferred; patient and recovery advocates testified in force, while payers warned of potential cost and managed‑care impacts. Sponsors and agencies acknowledged room for drafting clarity.

A new Senate bill aims to ensure non-opioid pain treatments get the support they deserve, as patient advocates urge for safer alternatives amid rising opioid concerns.

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#WA #HealthcareAccess #PainManagement #SubstanceUseRecovery #CitizenPortal

Friendship House awarded Proposition 1 funds for Village SF; Newsom highlights HAP accountability Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials announced Proposition 1 and HAP funds for Friendship House’s proposed Village SF rehabilitation and new build, describing new distribution conditions requiring encampment strategies and housing‑element compliance. Officials and the mayor framed the project as culturally specific treatment for Indigenous residents.

Friendship House is set to transform the lives of over 3,500 urban American Indian and Alaska Native residents with a new Village SF campus, thanks to significant state funding!

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#CA #BehavioralHealth #SubstanceUseRecovery #CitizenPortal #CulturalCompetence

Visiting expert urges treatment‑centered approach as county examines homelessness responses Dr. Robert Marbut told the board that national funding shifts since 2013 moved money toward vouchers without required wraparound services and that untreated behavioral health and substance use—especially fentanyl—are driving increases in unsheltered homelessness; he recommended scalable treatment and recovery programs with accountability.

Dr. Robert Marbut warns that a shift in homelessness funding has led to a surge in unsheltered individuals and rising overdose deaths, urging Mendocino County to adopt a treatment-centered approach for lasting change.

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#MendocinoCounty #CA #BehavioralHealth #SubstanceUseRecovery

House committee reviews H559 to modernize parole board structure and training A House committee heard testimony on bill H559 proposing changes to the parole board’s membership, training and staffing. Parole Board Director Mary Jane Ainsworth and the Attorney General’s Office discussed recruitment, statutory constraints on counsel and the board’s growing workload.

A Vermont House committee is pushing for a major overhaul of the state parole board to better address the rising needs of individuals with substance-use and mental health challenges.

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#VT #VermontParoleBoard #SubstanceUseRecovery #CriminalJusticeReform #MentalHealthSupport

SAMHSA's 2026 Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month Toolkit Now Available

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#SAMHSA #SubstanceUsePrevention #SubstanceUseDisorder #substanceuse #SubstanceUseRecovery #SubstanceUseAwareness

Budget panel approves opioid-settlement funds to keep two court case managers Vigo County budget committee approved using opioid-settlement funds to hire two case managers — one for the mental health treatment court and one RISE case manager — to maintain outreach, transportation and treatment-referral work that county judges said reduces jail stays.

Vigo County is using opioid-settlement funds to keep vital case managers on the front lines of mental health and substance use treatment, ensuring support for those in the jail and court system.

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#VigoCounty #IN #VigoCountyCourts #CommunityOutreach #SubstanceUseRecovery

Residents and recovery workers urge commissioners to keep independent drug-and-alcohol authority; county votes to send letter of intent for state review Dozens of residents, WDAC staff and local officials urged Washington County commissioners to reject a proposed county takeover of the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission and to allocate opioid settlement funds to the nonprofit; commissioners voted to submit a letter of intent to the state for review of a possible return of the single‑county‑authority designation.

Residents and recovery advocates are rallying to keep the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission independent, fearing a county takeover could jeopardize vital services and community trust.

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#WashingtonCounty #PA #CitizenPortal #CommunityTrust #SubstanceUseRecovery

Multnomah County reports 606 law‑enforcement referrals in first year of deflection program; board presses for clearer outcomes Multnomah County health staff reported 606 law‑enforcement referrals to the county’s deflection program in its first year and told the Board that 392 people (65%) engaged with services while 113 (29% of engaged) accessed treatment or recovery services within a 30‑day window.

Multnomah County's deflection program has made significant strides, with over 600 law-enforcement referrals leading to 65% of individuals engaging in vital recovery services.

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#MultnomahCounty #OR #CommunityEngagement #SubstanceUseRecovery

Board approves 44 new downtown detox beds to expand withdrawal‑management access Supervisors unanimously approved adding 44 withdrawal management (detox) beds downtown — a capacity the sponsors said would serve roughly 2,700 people per year — to improve access to detox and create a clearer pathway into longer‑term treatment and housing supports.

San Diego County just approved 44 new detox beds downtown, aiming to transform lives and combat the rising crises of homelessness and substance use.

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#SanDiegoCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #HomelessnessSupport #SanDiegoDetox #PublicHealth #SubstanceUseRecovery

Pathfinders for Hope presents survey showing rise in unsheltered men; commission agrees to hear full report Mark Cardenas of Pathfinders for Hope told the Vallejo Human Relations Commission a survey of 220 unsheltered men documents a sharp rise in homelessness and widespread service barriers. Commissioners voted unanimously to agendize a full presentation of the group's data at a future meeting.

A shocking new survey reveals a 50% rise in Vallejo's unsheltered male population, exposing the city’s failures in addressing homelessness.

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#VallejoSolanoCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport #VallejoHomelessness #SubstanceUseRecovery #HousingAccess

Recovery advocates and clients urge supervisors to keep First Step detox funding Several people who used or work with First Step told the county board cutting funding for detox services would remove a critical local resource for people with substance‑use disorders and argued the county should retain funding in the 2026 budget.

Residents and recovery advocates are pleading for the survival of First Step detox services in Milwaukee, citing its life-saving impact amid the fentanyl crisis.

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#MilwaukeeCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #CommunityHealthcare #SubstanceUseRecovery #DetoxServices

BRN executive officer reviews work‑in‑care and narcotics requirements for intervention program participants At the Oct. 8 Intervention Evaluation Committee meeting, California Board of Registered Nursing Executive Officer Laurie Melby reported on a board motion suspending routine requirements that program participants work in direct patient care or pass narcotics testing absent specific patient‑safety evidence and described her review of IEC requests to延

California's Board of Registered Nursing is shaking things up by suspending mandatory patient care roles for intervention program participants—could this be a game-changer for nurse rehabilitation?

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#CA #CitizenPortal #NursingRegulations #PatientSafety #SubstanceUseRecovery

Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses reports steady referrals and expanded outreach; sets goals for signed participation agreements TPAPN reported 629 referrals for the fiscal year (exceeding a 600 referral target), increased outreach and a plan to boost signed participation agreements and employer engagement with a virtual employer workshop series.

The Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses achieved a record-breaking 629 referrals this year while expanding outreach efforts to connect with over 6,500 nurses!

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#TX #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #TexasNurses #HealthcareSupport #SubstanceUseRecovery

Board of Registered Nursing committee reviews suspension of direct patient-care and narcotics-work requirements for intervention participants The Intervention Evaluation Committee heard an update from the Board of Registered Nursing executive officer on a board motion suspending blanket requirements that program participants work in direct patient care or have access to narcotics; staff reported 57 IEC recommendations reviewed since August 2024, with 28 approved and 29 returned for more證

The Board of Registered Nursing has taken a bold step by suspending blanket requirements for intervention program participants, paving the way for a more individualized approach to nurse rehabilitation.

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#CA #CitizenPortal #PatientSafety #PublicHealth #SubstanceUseRecovery

Board of Registered Nursing executive officer reports review of intervention program work requirements; committee approves minutes and 2026 schedule Loretta Melby, executive officer for the Board of Registered Nursing, told the Intervention Evaluation Committee on Oct. 8 that she has reviewed 56 IEC recommendations tied to work-in-patient-care, narcotics handling, and extensions beyond three years; 19 were approved, 31 were returned for more evidence. The committee approved prior meetingminutes

The California Board of Registered Nursing is reevaluating how intervention program participants can return to direct patient care, with a focus on ensuring patient safety and rehabilitation.

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#CA #OccupationalRegulation #CitizenPortal #PatientSafety #SubstanceUseRecovery

Washoe County designated Nevada’s first recovery-friendly county workplace; staff training planned Washoe County received formal recognition as a recovery-friendly workplace, a designation intended to encourage employees to seek help for substance-use and mental-health issues without stigma. County officials and state partners outlined next steps including staff workshops.

Washoe County has made history as Nevada's first "Recovery Friendly Workplace," paving the way for employees to seek help for substance use and mental health challenges without fear of stigma.

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#WashoeCounty #NV #CitizenPortal #MentalHealthSupport #SubstanceUseRecovery

Operators and treatment providers back discharge/referral rules for certified sober homes; privacy protections also urged Sober‑home operators, the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing and treatment providers told the committee that H.2240 would protect sober residences by requiring operator discharge/relocation policies for residents who return to active substance use, and witnesses supported H.2239 to safeguard resident privacy and reduce stigma.

Massachusetts is taking a bold step to enhance safety and privacy in sober homes with new bills aimed at supporting residents while preventing relapse and stigma.

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#MA #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #PrivacyProtection #SubstanceUseRecovery

Payson planning panel unanimously approves conditional use permit for 16‑bed residential recovery program The Payson Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve CUP 25‑001 to allow a voluntary, 30‑day residential substance‑use recovery program for up to 16 adult women at 300 West Wade Lane, subject to 12 staff conditions and required state and local permits.

Payson just approved a new 16-bed residential recovery facility aimed at helping women overcome substance use disorders—could this be a game changer for the community?

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#PaysonGilaCounty #AZ #CitizenPortal #SubstanceUseRecovery #RegulatoryCompliance #PaysonResidentialCare

Super September 💜

Check out linktr.ee/restorationfife to find out what's happening with #TeamResto in October 👀

#RecoveryInFife #SubstanceUseRecovery

@fifecouncil.bsky.social
#FifeVoluntaryAction
@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
@corra.scot
#FifeAlcoholAndDrugPartnership

YMCA and Berks Counseling Center Showcase Impact of Recovery Programs in Berks County Community leaders highlight success stories from recovery programs supporting addiction recovery in Berks.

Investing in recovery housing not only transforms lives but saves the community $7 for every dollar spent—discover how Berks County is leading the charge for change.

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#BerksCounty #PA #CitizenPortal #BerksCountyRecovery #MentalHealthSupport #SubstanceUseRecovery

Congratulations to Warren County on Tuesday's National Recovery Month event that featured a ribbon cutting ceremony for a Naloxone Vending Machine that will be placed at the courthouse and be available to the public at no cost. #warrencountync #substanceuserecovery #NationalRecoveryMonth

Massachusetts Legislators Push for Recovery Housing and Naloxone Access on College Campuses New bill aims to support college students in recovery by expanding access to naloxone.

Massachusetts lawmakers are taking a bold step towards supporting college students in recovery by proposing legislation for recovery-focused housing and increased access to life-saving naloxone.

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#MA #CitizenPortal #StudentSupportServices #SubstanceUseRecovery #OverdosePrevention