Over 800 Monterey County Babies Exposed Annually

A baby who is exposed to alcohol or other drugs prenatally comes into the world with problems other newborns don’t have. These problems, which if not identified and treated, can rule out the possibility of anything like a normal childhood and foreshadow problems and limitations in their adult life.

Each year more than 800 babies are born in Monterey County who have been exposed prenatally to alcohol and other drugs, and if they are to be helped there must be intervention and treatment before the age of six. To meet this problem head on, MCSTART was established with Door to Hope as the lead agency in a collaborative effort with the Monterey County Children’s Behavioral Health and the Parent Center of the Salinas Adult School. (MCSTART is the acronym for Monterey County Screening Team for Assessment, Referral and Treatment.)

Family Focus is Central to Our Treatment

Prenatally exposed children need daily understanding and attention from parents or caregivers who know what they are dealing with and what to do to help the child overcome deficits. They must be the child’s trusted anchor in the struggle to overcome difficulties.

Our professionals, many of whom are bilingual, are all trained in this highly specialized area of medicine and behavioral health. They represent many disciplines and can provide the knowledge, support and special services that the family needs.

Children referred to MCSTART undergo a comprehensive assessment of their medical, cognitive, behavioral, social, emotional, and educational development. Parental functioning also is assessed. Once an assessment is completed, all evaluating professionals, all involved agencies and practitioners, and the family meet to develop appropriate treatment strategies.

Admission Criteria

Children between ages 0 and 5 years with some of the following factors:

1. •Little or no prenatal care
   

2. •Biological mother with a substance abuse history
   

3. •Positive toxicology screen of mother or newborn at delivery Low newborn birth weight 
   

4. •Small head circumference
   

5. •Neonatal intensive care admission
   

6. •In the child welfare system
   

7. •Biological mothers with a history of substance abuse
   

8. •Biological mothers are involved with the criminal justice system, either corrections or probation
   

9. •Developmentally delayed
   

10. •Troubling behavior
    

11. •Family history of domestic violence
    

12. •History of multiple placements
    

Learn more MCSTART. Get information at the MCSTART Website at www.mcstart.org

To Speak to a Representative, call (831) 755-8155

“Together we can make the difference of a lifetime for infants and young children exposed to alcohol or other drugs in the womb.”

Our promise to parents and caregivers