Connections Summit 2026: An Immersive Walk through the Patient Experience in Perinatal Substance Use Care

Thursday, April 30, 2026, 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Lehigh Valley Health Network Center for Healthcare Education, Center Valley, PA


AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (5.75 hours), Contact Hours (5.75 hours), Social Worker (CEUs) (5.75 hours)

The conference will provide participants with a collective understanding of evidence-based, trauma-informed care for pregnant, and maternal substance use disorders and how to care for patients.

1. INCORPORATE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE PRINCIPLES INTO THE CARE OF PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS REALIZE THE ROLE THAT STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION PLAY IN ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN PREGNANT PEOPLE WITH SUD provide nonjudgemental, evidencebased care to pregnant patients with substance use disorders
2. Review the epidemiology of overdose related maternal mortality in Pennsylvania. Identify key risk periods and contributing factors driving substance use related maternal mortality, particularly during the postpartum year.
3. Summarize prevention themes and recommendations from case review and systems analysis to reduce overdose related maternal deaths
4. Discuss what happens during a substance use assessment.
5. Discuss how levels of care are determined Identify how MCOs can help streamline treatment access. Discuss how to gain opportunities to improve collaboration for your patients
6. Discuss the history of withdrawal in infants and the use of Finnegan scoring including its shortcomings
7. Discuss the prioritization of function over non treatable symptoms in infants
8. Describe the shift in substance use in mothers and changing expectations of infant function.
9. Discuss the importance of parental presence and infant comfort in this patient population
10. Describe the structure, purpose, and evolution of the Journeys program in Lehigh County, including its transition from the Plan of Safe Care model. Identify key components of the Journeys approach that support children and families affected by substance use through coordinated, familycentered care.
11. Explain how multidisciplinary team collaboration contributes to improved child safety, family engagement, and recovery outcomes.
12. Apply harm reduction strategies to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) patients and identify resources in community.
13. Analyze practice settings to prioritize practice improvement goals to enhance care for Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) patients.

1. INCORPORATE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE PRINCIPLES INTO THE CARE OF PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS REALIZE THE ROLE THAT STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION PLAY IN ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN PREGNANT PEOPLE WITH SUD provide nonjudgemental, evidencebased care to pregnant patients with substance use disorders
2. Review the epidemiology of overdose related maternal mortality in Pennsylvania. Identify key risk periods and contributing factors driving substance use related maternal mortality, particularly during the postpartum year. Summarize prevention themes and recommendations from case review and systems analysis to reduce overdose related maternal deaths
3. Discuss what happens during a substance use assessment. Discuss how levels of care are determined Identify how MCOs can help streamline treatment access. Discuss how to gain opportunities to improve collaboration for your patients
4. Discuss the history of withdrawal in infants and the use of Finnegan scoring including its shortcomings Describe the shift in substance use in mothers and changing expectations of infant function. Discuss the prioritization of function over non treatable symptoms in infants Discuss the importance of parental presence and infant comfort in this patient population
5. Describe the structure, purpose, and evolution of the Journeys program in Lehigh County, including its transition from the Plan of Safe Care model. Identify key components of the Journeys approach that support children and families affected by substance use through coordinated, familycentered care. Explain how multidisciplinary team collaboration contributes to improved child safety, family engagement, and recovery outcomes.
6. Apply harm reduction strategies to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) patients and identify resources in community.
7. Analyze practice settings to prioritize practice improvement goals to enhance care for Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) patients.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is accredited by the Pennsylvania Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Cancellation Policy

Please send cancellation requests to [email protected]. 

Lehigh Valley Health Network reserves the right to cancel or postpone this program if necessary; in the event of cancellation, course fees will be fully refunded. We are not responsible for other costs incurred such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel penalties.

Accessibility Statement
 
Lehigh Valley Health Network is committed to ensuring that its programs, services, goods and facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities as specified under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008.  If you have needs that require special accommodations, including dietary concerns, please contact the CME Conference Coordinator.

Lehigh Valley Health Network adheres to ACCME Criteria, Standards and Policies regarding industry support of continuing medical education. Disclosure of faculty and their commercial relationships will be made prior to the activity.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Thursday, April 30, 2026