June 8th 2005

June 8, 2005 Contact: ????????????
For Immediate Release Phone: ??? ??? ????

More Than 800 Babies Are Born Annually in
Monterey County Exposed to Alcohol and/or Drugs

Pioneering MCSTART Clinic Is One of the Few in the Nation

SALINAS—The Monterey County Screening Team for Assessment, Referral and Treatment (MCSTART) Clinic for infants and young children prenatally exposed to alcohol and/or other drugs marks its formal introduction to the community with an open house June 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 130 Church St. in Salinas.

Opened in 2004 in light of the estimated 800 babies born annually in the county who are substance exposed, the clinic is one of the few in the nation. It is based on research by Chicago Dr. Ira Chasnoff, one of the nation’s leading researchers in the field of maternal drug use during pregnancy and the effects on infants. Collaborative partners in MCSTART are Door to Hope, the lead agency, the Children’s Behavioral Health and Community Health divisions of the Monterey County Health Department, and The Parent Center of the Salinas Adult School.

“Because of brain growth in the first five years, it is critical to provide treatment to children before the age of six,” says Chris Shannon, executive director, Door to Hope. “We have worked hard with our partners to develop treatment based on the best available information. And we have assembled an outstanding multi-disciplinary team of health care and educational professionals to appropriately assess the damage done to infants and young children, and tailor a family centered treatment process that will help them maximize their potential.”

“MCSTART can quite literally make the difference of a lifetime for our very young and vulnerable clients.”

Shannon explained that the prenatally exposed can experience a wide range of debilities caused by physical brain damage. They can be born prematurely and underweight. They may have speech and language deficits or have trouble with motor skills affecting their ability to play with toys or learn to ride a bike or write. They may appear clumsy because they have problems sensing that their body is in space.

Also, they may have trouble relating to other children or be perceived as having “bad attitudes,” behavior that in fact is a result of mental confusion. They may have “spotty memories” making tasks like multiplication very difficult or they may follow a rule one day and not remember it the next. They often have poor judgment, don’t learn from mistakes, have trouble understanding time and money, and give in easily to peer pressure.

“There are many more possible deficits for this children,” Shannon says. “No two children with this problem are the same. Assessment and treatment are complicated and require a constellation of diverse professionals with specialized training to meet the challenge.”

MCSTARTS’ staff includes a pediatrician, pediatric nurse practitioner, child psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, infant mental health specialist, substance abuse professional, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and speech/language therapist.

MCSTART services include physical health care, mental health care, physical therapy, speech and language support, education, family support and case management.

The MCSTART Clinic at 130 Church St., Salinas, is open the five week days with transportation and childcare provided. Consultation is available at the clinic, childcare centers and through home visitations when needed. The phone number is 831 755 8155.