NH POSC Guidance Document 8-15-19.pdf

New Hampshire's Plans of Safe Care Guidance Document provides guidance on Plans of Safe Care (POSCs) for infants born with substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms due to prenatal drug exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. A POSC is developed collaboratively with the mother and other caregivers to reinforce existing supports and coordinate referrals to new services. It must be developed for any infant exposed to drugs and/or alcohol prenatally, and one POSC is developed for both the mother and infant. The POSC is typically developed by a healthcare provider and the mother, and must be completed after an infant's birth before the mother's discharge. Best practices support developing the POSC prenatally to serve as a living document throughout the pregnancy and after birth. The POSC is given to the mother upon discharge and shared with the infant's primary care provider, but not with DCYF unless a report of child abuse and/or neglect is made. The federal "notification" requirement involves hospitals notifying officials when an infant is born with substance use or withdrawal symptoms, and reporting annually to the federal Children's Bureau the aggregate number of infants born with prenatal drug and/or alcohol exposure for whom a POSC was created.