FISHERS, IND. — Indiana healthcare leaders from across the state participated in the 10th annual Perinatal Substance Use Conference on Sept. 3. Organized by the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) in partnership with the Indiana Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (IPQIC), more than 140 healthcare professionals attended.
“For the past 10 years, this conference has brought together healthcare professionals and community partners to share ideas, build collaboration and advance strategies that improve outcomes for Hoosier mothers and babies affected by substance use,” said Brittany Waggoner, IHA’s maternal and infant quality improvement advisor.
“This milestone is an opportunity to celebrate what we have accomplished together over the past decade, while recognizing that there is still important work ahead to ensure every mother and baby has the opportunity for a healthy start,” she added.
According to Indiana’s 2025 maternal mortality report, perinatal substance use remains the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in the state.
Opening this year’s conference were IHA President Scott B. Tittle and Emily Fitz, MD, chief medical officer of the Indiana Department of Health, which plays a key role in leading the IPQIC.
“Indiana has made important innovations to improve maternal and infant health, but the data make clear that there is still significant work to be done to address perinatal substance use,” Dr. Fitz said. “Through initiatives like Health First Indiana and the Rural Health Transformation Program, we are strengthening the public health infrastructure, expanding local and rural resources, and improving connections between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. The work from this conference is an important part of that effort, and I look forward to seeing the ideas and partnerships developed there translate into meaningful action in communities across Indiana.”
Keynote speakers helped attendees understand the neuroscience of substance use and its role in treatment and therapy for pregnant and postpartum women, and to identify strategies to support patients across the continuum of care. Attendees at the conference heard firsthand about the lived experience of a Hoosier woman affected by substance use disorder.
“Perinatal substance use is a complex issue that cannot be addressed by anyone, hospital, provider, organization, or community,” said IHA President Scott B. Tittle. “It requires collaboration across healthcare, public health, behavioral health, social services, and community organizations. It also requires us to listen to the experiences of the women and families we serve and ensure that our systems of care are compassionate, evidence-based, and responsive to their needs.”
The 10th annual Perinatal Substance Use Conference was underwritten by CHAMP and USDTL. Other sponsors included CHOICE Recovery, Dexur, Mental Health of America Indiana, Pregnancy Promise Program and The Milk Bank.