About PSAPC

In 1991, Missouri passed legislation to promote a medical (non-punitive) model of health services for perinatal substance abuse. The legislation is known as Chapter 191 (RSMo) or Senate Bill 190. This law encourages counseling, priority treatment, assistance with obtaining services, and public and professional education.

The law also stipulated that multidisciplinary teams be established in the metropolitan areas of Missouri to oversee the implementation of the legislation. By 1996, such teams had been established in the Kansas City and the St. Louis areas of the state. The St. Louis area committee was named St. Louis Perinatal Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force. The name was later changed to Perinatal Substance Abuse Prevention Committee (PSAPC). Several public and private agencies have participated in the team activity over the years, collaborated on, and provided services such as client identification, crisis assessment, treatment, follow up activities, and when necessary, care coordination.

In 2008, the PSAPC merged with the Maternal Child and Family Health Coalition of St. Louis to be integrated with other stakeholders and maternal and child health initiatives. The PSAPC initiated this website as a tool for providers to access screening, treatment and support resources. In the future, it will expand to disseminate information and resources to the general public.