DESCRIPTION

This training has the following objectives:

• The learner will be able to identify high risk psychosocial risk factors that can complicate pregnancy outcomes.
• The learner will be able to identify the reasons why it is important to complete universal psychosocial screening in pregnant women as a standard of care.
• The learner will be able to identify the emotional effects of high risk medical complications during the perinatal period and into parenthood.
• The learner will be able to identify the risk factors and impact of adolescent pregnancy.
• The learner will be able to identify the impact of substance and alcohol abuse on the physiological and psychological outcomes of pregnancy and parenting.
• The learner will be able to recognize the more common perinatal mental disorders which can impact pregnancy and postpartum outcomes.
• The learner will be able to identify the dynamics of intimate partner violence on pregnancy and outcomes. The learner will be able to identify the impact of perinatal loss on emotional health and future pregnancies.
• The learner will be able to identify the impact of perinatal death and stillbirths on current and future pregnancies.

Speaker

Nancy Sheppard Alderman, LCSW, is a social worker by training. She received her undergraduate and graduate social work degrees from the University of Texas in Austin. After a short tenure with the City of Austin Public Health unit, she began a 24-year career at Seton Ascension Network, a large regional perinatal system in Central Texas. She worked in various capacities within the Perinatal Services specialty, beginning in the mother/baby and neonatal units. In her final position with the network, as the Network Perinatal Outreach Coordinator, she worked to strengthen the continuum of care and access for pregnant and newly parenting families through Central Texas. In 2010, she founded the Central Texas Perinatal Coalition to facilitate formal networking among agencies, organizations and professionals serving the perinatal population. The Coalition continues to meet monthly and has become a consistent means of connection among those serving this population. Nancy was appointed to the Texas Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Committee in 2006, which is providing the data needed to find solutions in our complex state in terms of healthcare access and quality of care for pregnant women. She has a special in interest in studying the causes and solutions related to the disparities in birth outcomes for women of color.

Nancy has maintained a successful private psychotherapy practice for 11 years, and serves a very diverse clientele. She feels fortunate to be able to utilize her years of experience and expertise in her work with the perinatal clients and families in her practice. Advocating for the ongoing improvement of healthcare and birth outcomes will remain her lifelong passion.