New Beginnings Moms Do Care – Supporting Mother and Infants Impacted by Substance Exposure
Maternity with Southcoast Health Podcast
Season 3: New Beginnings Moms Do Care – Supporting Mother and Infants Impacted by Substance Exposure – with Katelyn Caton and Lauren Souza at Southcoast Health
Mission:
E. Explanation of the New Beginnings, Moms Do Care Program and roles of the Katelyn Caton and Lauren Souza
· Mission of the program.
· Why this program was created, and what needs it fills within our community.
Care Approach & Philosophy:
How the program emphasizes “meeting mothers where they are at" and how this is practiced.
· How compassionate, individualized care differs from traditional approaches to maternity and recovery support.
· Explanation of the roles that family advocates, nurses, and recovery coaches play in a mother’s care journey.
Eligibility & Services:
· Eligilbity requirements for the program and how a mother or family can get connected.
· Support provided by the program during pregnancy, in the hospital, and after birth.
· Explanation of the support for up to three years postpartum and why is that extended timeframe important.
Substance Exposure & Infant Care:
The challenges that infants have of being exposed to substances during pregnancy and how to address those challenges.
Explanation of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS).
· Treatment options available for infants — both non-pharmacological and pharmacological — and how the best approaches are determined.
Patient Experience & Success Stories:
How the New Beginnings, Moms Do Care Program helps to prepare mothers for delivery and the hospital experience, especially when there may be concerns about substance exposure.
P Positive impacts of the New Beginnings Moms Do Care program - reports of mother and infant thriving after being part of this program.
· Collaboration & Community Impact:
· Collaboration with neonatologists and other providers to ensure families feel informed and supported.
· Community partnerships and resources offered to connect families outside Southcoast Health.
· Reducing stigma around substance use in pregnancy, both within healthcare and in the wider community.
Looking Ahead:
Future goals of the New Beginnings Moms Do Care Program
· How can listeners can support this mission, through advocacy, awareness, or community involvement.
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Lauren Sousa
Lauren Sousa, RN Team Leader and Grant Award Manager of the New Beginnings Moms Do Care Program at Southcoast Health. With 15 years of experience in nursing, Lauren has spent her career focusing on supporting families in her community, taking special interest in families impacted by substances. In 2015 Lauren joined the Substance Exposed Newborn Committee, taking on the role of facilitator in 2016 and expanding the group into what is now known as SENSE (Substance Exposed Newborns Southeast) Collaborative, bringing providers together across the region to improve the care of families impacted by substances. In 2019 Lauren joined Southcoast Health’s New Beginnings Program to pilot the role of Postpartum Care Coordinator, providing services to mothers from hospital discharge throughout 12 months postpartum. Taking on the role of Team Leader in 2021, Lauren managed the Health Policy Commission’s C4SEN grant which allowed further expansion of the care team. New Beginnings became a Moms Do Care site in 2023, expanding services to support pregnant and parenting people impacted by all substances up to 3 years postpartum. Lauren was the recipient of the Eagle Leadership award in 2023 and her team was the honored to be recipients of the Perinatal Quality Improvement Network Hospital Team Award in 2024. Most recently Lauren saw her passion project come to life as she led the thoughtful design of the New Beginnings Moms Do Care’s first ever clinical location. Opening its doors in January 2025, the space now offers a cozy, welcoming atmosphere to host moms and their littles ones for casual weekly drop-in hours, structured parent groups, more formal care plan meetings, 1:1 patient and provider meetings, and group celebratory events.
Katelyn Caton
Katelyn Caton, Program Coordinator of the New Beginnings Moms Do Care Program at Southcoast Health. With 19 years’ experience supporting at-risk children and their families, Katelyn is deeply committed to strengthening families and improving outcomes for vulnerable communities. She has been a part of the program since its inception in 2017, helping to shape and grow services that support children and caregivers. In 2021, she stepped into the role of SENSE facilitator while also taking on responsibilities as Program Coordinator, further expanding her work to guide and support both families and professionals.
Passionate about sharing knowledge and improving care for families impacted by substance use, Katelyn has presented at several conferences, including the Bristol County Regional Alliance Conference and the IDTA (In-Depth Technical Assistance) Kick-Off for Improving Care for Families Affected by Substance Use in 2023. In 2024, she also presented at the To the Moon and Back Conference. Through her work and presentations, she remains dedicated to collaboration, advocacy, and creating supportive systems where children and families can thrive.
You can view the New Beginnings landing page on Southcoast.org here: https://www.southcoast.org/community/new-beginnings/. Southcoast Health, which includes Charlton Memorial Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital and Tobey Hospital, serves communities across southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island as the largest provider of primary and specialty care in the region.