For more than 27 years, Safe Communities has worked across Dane County to address the leading causes of injury and death, including suicide, traffic safety, falls, and drug-related harm. Among its many initiatives is Pregnancy to Recovery, a peer-led program that supports pregnant and parenting people impacted by substance use through advocacy, connection, and compassionate care.
Launched in 2017, Pregnancy to Recovery was built on the belief that people navigating substance use during pregnancy deserve support from someone who understands their experience firsthand. The program trains peer providers with lived experience of substance use during pregnancy to walk alongside birthing people throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period.
According to Tanya Kraege, LCSW, CSAC, WI CPS, Director of Peer Services at Safe Communities, that shared lived experience is what makes the program so impactful.
“I think it’s the shared lived experience,” Tanya explained. “The feelings around fear, inadequacy, or navigating systems that haven’t always treated people with dignity—peer providers understand that firsthand.”
Peer providers help participants navigate appointments, connect with resources, create birth plans, access transportation, and advocate within healthcare systems that can often feel overwhelming. They also serve as a bridge between families and providers, helping ensure individuals feel heard, respected, and supported throughout their pregnancy and recovery journey.
Over time, the program has evolved to meet the needs of the families it serves. While Pregnancy to Recovery initially focused on opioid use during pregnancy, the team quickly recognized that families were navigating a much broader range of substance use experiences, including alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cannabis use. They also identified a need for longer-term support after birth. As a result, the program expanded from 90 days of postpartum support to a full year, recognizing that recovery challenges often continue well beyond delivery.
Since 2019, Pregnancy to Recovery has supported more than 170 individuals across Wisconsin. Many participants are navigating multiple systems at once, including healthcare, child welfare, and the justice system. Building trust can take time, which is why maintaining relationships and continuity of care remains central to the program’s approach.
Beyond direct support, Safe Communities also works to address stigma within healthcare settings. Tanya shared an example of an anti-stigma training developed for healthcare professionals after a provider expressed concerns about how pregnant people impacted by substance use were being treated. The training focused on language, stigma, and understanding substance use disorders as health conditions rather than moral failings.
The impact extended beyond providers.
“People being seen within that healthcare system were reporting back to us that they felt a change in that system,” Tanya shared. “I think that was a big win.”
For Tanya, the most rewarding part of the work is seeing parents begin to recognize their own strengths and possibilities.
“It’s been one of the greatest gifts of my life,” she said. “To really see these parents create different lives for themselves and feel seen, heard, and supported in ways that maybe they haven’t experienced before.”
As Safe Communities looks ahead, the organization hopes to continue expanding Pregnancy to Recovery through additional funding, more trained doulas, and enhanced postpartum supports. Their vision remains focused on creating judgment-free spaces where pregnant and parenting people impacted by substance use can access care, build trust, and move toward healing on their own terms.
To learn more about Safe Communities and the Pregnancy to Recovery program, visit their website or contact their team directly.
