TTAC's Annual Conference brought together two essential but often disconnected fields: perinatal and infant mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Integrating these areas is critical to effectively supporting families during and after pregnancy. 

Substance use disorders can disrupt a parent's capacity to offer attuned, responsive care—an essential task in the perinatal period. Yet this period also represents a time of heightened motivation and possibility for change, offering a unique opportunity to support recovery and nurture the parent-infant relationship. 

Designed for perinatal and SUD practitioners, as well as infant and early childhood mental health clinicians, the conference featured national experts who explored: 

• Types of SUDs and their impact on perinatal care 
• Research on the intersection of trauma, parenting, and substance use 
• Policies and practices that effectively support families during pregnancy and postpartum

A multidisciplinary panel answered participants’ questions and shared practical tools to help practitioners strengthen care for families. 

The conference offered 6.5 Continuing Education contact hours for the following license types: LCSWs, LMSWs, LMHCs, LMFTs, and LPs. 

VIEW RECORDINGS OF THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND PANEL DISCUSSION

Amanda Lowell, PhD: Psychotherapy and Beyond: Tapping Into Reflective Functioning When Working With Families Impacted by Parental Substance Use

Leah Habersham, MD: Substance Use and Use Disorders in Pregnancy & Postpartum Periods: Clinical, Ethical, and Systems-Level Approaches for All Providers

Andra Wilkinson, PhD, MSPH: What’s Working (or Not) in Policy Approaches to Prenatal Substance Use

Jill Kraus & Katherine Have, New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS): The Evolving Focus of Child Welfare: Supporting Families with Substance Use Disorders in the Perinatal Period

Keynote Speaker Panel: Bringing It All Together: Panel Discussion