Beyond Traditional Treatment: NEDHSA Redefines Maternal Behavioral Healthcare in Northeast Louisiana

Agency's coordinated approach addresses substance use, maternal health, recovery, and family stability through an expanding continuum of care.

MONROE, La., Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For pregnant and parenting women experiencing substance use disorders, getting help can involve navigating an overwhelming collection of medical appointments, treatment providers, transportation challenges, and family responsibilities. Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) is working to change that experience through a maternal health strategy that connects treatment with the broader needs of women and their families.

NEDHSA's Maternal Health Initiative represents an expanded approach to the role of regional behavioral health providers, bringing together clinical treatment, healthcare coordination, recovery resources, and community support to help women access appropriate care.

Rather than treating substance use, mental health, and maternal healthcare as unrelated challenges, the initiative recognizes how these issues intersect and the importance of addressing them together.

"Maternal health is not just about what happens during a medical appointment," said Dr. Monteic A. Sizer, Executive Director of NEDHSA. "It's about whether a mother can access treatment, whether she has support during recovery, whether she can connect with healthcare providers, and whether her family has the resources needed to move forward. That's the level of care coordination we're working to provide."

Through the initiative, NEDHSA connects pregnant and parenting women with behavioral health screening and assessment, outpatient substance use treatment, case management, recovery support, and referrals to appropriate maternal and primary healthcare services.

NEDHSA also provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT), an approach that can combine medication with counseling and other behavioral health services. For women with opioid use disorder, NEDHSA provides medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) when clinically appropriate. Pregnant and parenting women can call NEDHSA to ask about an assessment and discuss whether medication is appropriate as part of their care.

The agency will also soon open the R.I.S.E. Treatment Center, a specialized residential treatment component designed to address the needs of pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders. The program's family-centered approach includes provisions for dependent children to remain with their mothers during residential treatment.

Women do not have to wait for residential placement to seek help. Those who may eventually need residential treatment can contact NEDHSA now to begin the outpatient assessment process and connect with treatment, care coordination, and recovery support.

NEDHSA is also working to strengthen referral relationships with healthcare providers, hospitals, community organizations, and other partners. The goal is to make it easier for those partners to identify women who need assistance and connect them with appropriate services.

"We're demonstrating what can happen when behavioral healthcare is approached as part of a woman's overall health and family circumstances," said Dr. Sizer. "Our goal is to build an approach that works for Northeast Louisiana while contributing ideas and practices that can strengthen maternal healthcare across the state."

For information about NEDHSA's Maternal Health Initiative, to ask about an assessment or treatment, or to make a referral, call 1-800-256-2522 or visit www.nedeltahsa.org.

About NEDHSA
Northeast Delta Human Services Authority provides behavioral health, substance use prevention and treatment, developmental disability services, and community-based support across Northeast Louisiana. Through partnerships and coordinated care, NEDHSA works to improve health outcomes and expand access to essential services.

SOURCE Northeast Delta Human Services Authority