MORGANTOWN — WVU Medicine Children’s and the IMPACT WV program have introduced a new clinic aimed at assisting families with infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

Held Wednesday afternoons at the WVU Health Sciences Center, the NAS Follow-Up Clinic targets children aged five and under. A multidisciplinary team provides evaluations and guidance on various aspects, including growth, development, nutrition, vision, dental health, behavior, and family bonding.

IMPACT WV, part of the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities, focuses on improving the health and well-being of children with NAS, women who use or have used substances, and their caregivers. The program brings patient navigation services and WVU Medicine Children’s social workers to the new clinic, connecting mothers to recovery support and resources.

Experts involved in the clinic include Lesley Cottrell, Ph.D.; Cody Smith, M.D.; Dami Kim, D.D.S.; Tammi Clutter, A.P.R.N., P.P.C.N.P.-B.C.; and Mary Beth Mandich, Ph.D., P.T. The coordination is managed by Angela Poling, M.S.W., L.G.S.W.; Vicki Johnson, M.S.; and Mary Chafin, M.S.N., N.N.P.-B.C.

Additionally, IMPACT WV offers an online learning portal with self-paced training resources for families and providers. These resources aim to educate on the impact of substance use on families and child development. The program offers direct aid for qualifying families, covering basic needs, transportation, and dental care.

For more details about the NAS Follow-Up Clinic and IMPACT WV, contact Program Manager Sue Workman at charlotte.workman@hsc.wvu.edu or call 304-293-4692.

For more information on WVU Medicine Children’s, visit WVUKids.com. For the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities, visit CEDWVU.org.