December 12, 2024 — The West Virginia Perinatal Partnership (WVPP) has received a $110,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation for a multi-site pilot project to examine the use of the Moodr Health digital solution within the Drug Free Moms and Babies Program.
The Moodr Health platform is designed to assist healthcare providers in proactively addressing, treating, and evaluating mental health challenges. The platform is a remote patient monitoring tool that offers HIPAA-compliant text messaging and telehealth outreach services. It’s designed to give healthcare providers prompt warning signs of mood changes, helping providers prevent, intervene, and treat mental health challenges early.
“We are so grateful to have the opportunity to explore the benefits of using the Moodr Health Digital Solution to help us address behavioral health conditions of participants in our Drug Free Moms and Babies (DFMB) program,” said WVPP Deputy Director Janine Breyel. “We are optimistic that this tool will help expand the reach and effectiveness of our program resulting in improved health outcomes for mothers and babies affected by substance use.”
The Moodr Health team presented the platform to participants at the Drug Free Moms and Babies annual meeting during the WV Perinatal Summit in October, following the announcement of the Benedum Foundation Grant.
“When I heard the presentation at the DFMB Annual Meeting, I was struck by the tremendous potential of the Moodr tool to stay connected with mothers—not only during their participation in the Drug Free Moms and Babies program but also in the postpartum period,” said Stefan Maxwell, MD, Neonatologist at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC). Dr. Maxwell also serves as Chief of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the NICU at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital. “We’ve seen great success with the DFMB programs in reducing substance use by delivery, decreasing premature births, and shortening the length of stay for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). However, while the original intent of the DFMB program was to follow mothers and babies for two years postpartum, this goal has not been achieved.”
“As a member of both the infant and maternal mortality committees for our state, it is clear to me that many adverse outcomes for mothers—such as substance use and overdose deaths, suicide, and violence leading to homicide—and for infants—such as ‘SUIDS’ (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome) related to unsafe sleeping conditions, neglect, and substance use—are closely linked to postpartum mental health conditions,” Maxwell added. “I see Moodr Health as a transformative solution to these issues. By providing close follow-up during the postpartum period, this tool has the potential to positively impact the health of mothers and their infants and to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the years to come.”
In addition to the Benedum Grant, Moodr Health, based in Morgantown, WV, has awarded the Drug Free Moms and Babies Program an Early Innovator Grant Award of $45,000 for the pilot project, in recognition of their shared commitment to proactive mental health support.
“We’re passionate about connecting people with meaningful mental health resources and the Early Innovator Grant Award is a way for Moodr to support the kind of forward thinking, effective work that’s being done by the Drug Free Moms and Babies Program,” said Michelle Hopkins, Chief Customer Success Officer at Moodr Health. “They’re truly worthy of this award and we’re excited to see the difference the Moodr platform is going to make in the lives of West Virginia moms and babies.”
The combined grants allow for the pilot program participation of 300 pregnant or postpartum patients at seven DFMB sites across the state.
The WV Perinatal Partnership surveyed all 23 DFMB clinical sites in West Virginia to determine program participants. Those selected include: CAMC–Vandalia Health, Davis Medical Center–Vandalia Health, Marshall Health–Marshall Health Network, Camden Clark Medical Center–WVU Medicine, United Hospital Center–WVU Medicine, Weirton Medical Center–WVU Medicine, and St. Joseph’s Hospital–WVU Medicine.
Moodr Health’s platform was customized based on feedback from DFMB site surveys, streamlining patient communication, screening, and enhancing outreach and education efforts.
“Research shows that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions encountered by women of reproductive age. When left untreated, these conditions can have adverse effects on women and their children,” said Kim Tieman, Vice President and Program Director of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. “The Benedum Foundation is excited about this partnership with WVPP’s Drug Free Moms and Babies Program and Moodr Health and the opportunity to serve women and families in time of need.”
The one-year DFMB and Moodr Health pilot project began Oct. 1 and will conclude Sept. 30, 2025. Baseline data on the effectiveness of the proactive outreach within this population vs. those DFMB patients not currently enrolled will be collected and analyzed. Proponents believe the effectiveness of the program will lead to its continuation and expansion into all Drug Free Moms and Babies sites in the state.
This work builds upon the strong foundation of the WVPP’s Drug Free Moms & Babies Program, which has received national attention, with several mentions in the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health’s Report to Congress. Highlighted were the program’s comprehensive support of healthy outcomes for mothers and babies by providing prevention, early intervention, SUD treatment, and recovery support until up to 2 years postpartum. DFMB integrates medical care, mental health care, wraparound recovery support services, social services, and other services.
By combining this existing framework with innovative solutions like Moodr Health’s digital platform, as explored in the pilot, the WVPP aims to continue addressing the critical mental health needs of mothers and babies across West Virginia.