WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King has announced Maine received a total of $1,461,282 to help combat the opioid crisis.

This continued investment enables care delivery partners across Maine, including hospitals and community health centers, to establish and expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services for pregnant and postpartum women, per a news release. 

The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) Maternal Opioid Misuse ModelMaine Maternal Opioid Model (MaineMOM).

“The opioid crisis is devastating families and communities across our state, claiming the life of more than one Mainer per day on average,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This important funding will provide mothers throughout our state who are struggling with substance use disorders with access to the treatment programs they need to achieve recovery and healing.”

The MaineMOM initiative aims to improve care for pregnant and postpartum women with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and their infants by integrating maternal and substance use treatment services.

The program supports the treatment and recovery of mothers and infants with group-based medication-assisted treatment, coordinating delivery, hospital, and post-partum care, and conducting public outreach campaigns across the state.

Maine is only one of ten states participating in the program, the release noted.