Innovating Education in Reproductive Health

How can we connect our patients to services without reporting them?

Why do we assume that people who use drugs will subsequently abuse or neglect their children?

Were you aware of the history of the child welfare system? What about the racist origins of the child welfare system?  If not, why do you think that is?

What information in this video was new to you? Does this history and this information influence how you think about the child welfare system?

What emotions came up for you as you watched this video? How, if at all, do they compare to other instances of reflecting on or learning about racism? What tools do you have to navigate these emotions?

Let’s think about what we do as health professionals, and what the systems we work for provide to people and to communities.

What goals do you have in your own work with families affected by substance use and use disorder?

How do you assess the impact of your work with families affected by substance use and use disorder?

Emotions that may come up while navigating the issues related to drug use, birth, and child welfare reporting. Healthcare professionals have reported feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, and confusion. Healthcare professionals have also reported feeling confident about their reporting decisions. Whatever your initial feelings are coming into this work, we encourage you to reflect on your current experience.

If you feel guilt (feeling as if you did something wrong) related to your involvement in child welfare reporting, we want to offer resources before you progress further in this training. If you need help deciphering between feelings of guilt and shame, here is a resource that is helpful: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/guilt/guilt-vs-shame-whats-the-difference-and-why-does-it-matter/

Make some notes for yourself now on the emotions that come up as well as how you deal with these emotions in your professional life. Some people find meditation or discussions with others helpful; some find rituals or physical activity beneficial. We want you to build your own toolbox to help navigate your emotions related to this topic.