New Mexico nonprofit set to launch program supporting pregnant women with addiction

KOAT 7 Story: New Mexico nonprofit set to launch program supporting pregnant women with addiction July 13, 2026 by Alyssa Munoz

State-funded pilot will provide financial incentives, treatment and family support to help pregnant women with addiction and improve outcomes for babies

A New Mexico nonprofit is launching a pilot program aimed at helping pregnant women struggling with addiction, with the goal of improving birth outcomes and reducing the number of babies entering foster care.

New Mexico Appleseed, in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Health and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, is preparing to launch it next spring.

Jennifer Ramo, founder and executive director of New Mexico Appleseed, said the program is designed to interrupt what she called the “fentanyl and drug use to foster care pipeline,” in which babies are born substance-exposed and often face either removal into foster care or unsafe conditions at home. According to the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, more than two dozen drug-exposed newborns have died after leaving hospitals with their parents.

The pilot will serve 15 pregnant women in their first trimester who are receiving care through UNM’s Milagro Clinic and FOCUS family clinic. Participants will receive $250 a week for clean drug screens during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum.

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Ramo said the model is based on research showing that immediate rewards after clean drug screens can help support recovery. But she said the program is about more than cash payments.

In addition to addiction treatment support, the 20-month pilot will provide services aimed at stabilizing families, including prenatal care, housing support, food assistance, job training and financial literacy resources.

“From prenatal, first trimester all the way to one year postpartum, having that economic and addiction support and prenatal care and care for your family really may be the answer. Let’s center mom and keep her safe so she can keep baby safe,” Ramo said.

State health officials are funding the pilot with $450,000. Organizers say the small-scale launch is intended to test how well the model works and what improvements may be needed before any broader expansion. 

Ramo said the long-term goal is to show that addressing addiction and poverty together can lead to healthier babies, more stable families and fewer foster care placements.