(1) This section may be cited as the “Targeted Outreach for Pregnant Women Act of 1998.”
(2) It is the purpose of this section to establish a targeted outreach program for high-risk pregnant women who may not seek proper prenatal care, who suffer from substance abuse or mental health problems, or who have acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and to provide these women with links to much-needed services and information.
(3) The department shall:(a) Conduct outreach programs through contracts with, grants to, or other working relationships with persons or entities where the target population is likely to be found.
(b) Provide outreach that is peer-based, culturally sensitive, and performed in a nonjudgmental manner.
(c) Encourage high-risk pregnant women of unknown status to be tested for HIV and other sexually transmissible diseases as specified by department rule.
(d) Educate women not receiving prenatal care as to the benefits of such care.
(e) Provide pregnant women who have HIV with information on the need for antiretroviral medication for their newborns, their medication options, and how they can access the medication after their discharge from the hospital.
(f) Link women with substance abuse treatment and mental health services, when available, and act as a liaison with Healthy Start coalitions, children’s medical services, Ryan White-funded providers, and other services of the Department of Health.
(g) Educate pregnant women who have HIV on the importance of engaging in and continuing HIV care.
(h) Provide continued oversight of any newborn exposed to HIV to determine the newborn’s final HIV status and ensure continued linkage to care if the newborn is diagnosed with HIV.
(4) The types of entities the department is encouraged to contract with, provide grants to, or enter into other working relationships with may include, but are not limited to, faith-based organizations, academic institutions, religious organizations, nonprofit community centers, and other social-services-related entities.
