Referral linkages to support pregnant and postpartum individuals with opioid use disorders in Florida: a social network analysis
Year Published: 2026
Authors: Amandeep Kaur Ratta, MD, MBBS, MS (HSRP&A), Rafaella Stein Elger, Wouter Vermeer, PhD, Tanner Wright, MD, Asa Oxner, MD, Kimberly Fryer, MD, MSCR, Jennifer Marshall, PhD
Background
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has emerged as a critical public health issue among pregnant and postpartum individuals. To address this concern, it is of utmost importance that healthcare institutions, community-based programs, and other agencies collaborate to improve the support offered to the concerned population in their OUD recovery journey. A social network analysis was conducted to understand collaborations among multisectoral agencies serving or having potential to serve pregnant and postpartum individuals with OUD.
Methods
Collaborations among agencies (n = 79), including three Continuous And Data-drivEN CarE (CADENCE) program clinics, in a large Florida county were mapped. A cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed to these agencies to capture inter-agency collaborations, including services provided (e.g., housing, transportation, etc.), interaction frequency, and perceptions of partner agency confidence, dependence, and value. Open-ended questions identified champion agencies and needs of agencies to better serve the population. Network maps of the agencies were generated to characterize the nature of existing collaborations and identify opportunities for strengthening interagency coordination.