Lighting the path for moms in recovery and their babies
Firefly combines prenatal and postpartum care with treatment for opioid use disorder for women facing the dual challenge of pregnancy and recovery in Middle Tennessee. Participation in the program is free.
Support Firefly & Celebrate Recovery on August 16th
Save the date for our third annual Firefly fundraiser, “Glowing Strong: Rock for a Reason” at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville on Friday, August 16th, 2024. Come celebrate women in recovery, help raise funds for Firefly, bowl, shop in our silent auction, and rock out to the Goo Goo Dolls. Check back to buy tickets in May!
Who We Are
Based in the Center for Women’s Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Firefly is an outpatient clinical program that seeks to improve care for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder and their infants. Firefly accepts Medicaid (TennCare), private insurance, and uninsured patients, and services are free.
Services We Provide
Prenatal Care
Patients in Firefly receive free, comprehensive prenatal care throughout the duration of their pregnancy, as well as postpartum care after birth that’s integrated with addiction treatment and support.
Addiction Treatment
Our providers are specifically trained to care for pregnant women who are undergoing treatment for addiction. All doctors in our program are authorized to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction.
Group Therapy
In addition to individual counseling, social work and peer support, patients have the opportunity to connect with peers in free weekly group therapeutic sessions, either in-person or online.
Peer Support
Each patient is paired with a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, a woman in recovery with lived experience who helps patients navigate their recovery journey. Peers connect with patients weekly to provide support and assistance.
Gift Cards & Points
Eligible patients receive gift cards and incentive program points, redeemable for mom and baby care items, which are earned for completing program milestones such as attending appointments and participating in life skills modules.
Lactation Support
Beginning in their third trimester and continuing through the postpartum period, patients will meet regularly with a lactation consultant to assist with breastfeeding, pumping, and supporting their infant with mother’s milk.
Acudetox
A new offering from the Firefly program, Acudetox is a treatment method that involves placing acupuncture needles gently in the ear at specific points. The intervention can provide symptom relief, relax the nervous system, calm emotions, and support patients in their recovery.
Connection to Services
Firefly helps connect women to support services at Vanderbilt and in the greater Middle Tennessee region, such as nurse home visitation, Early Intervention Services, food banks, childcare resources, and other supports.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment
This spring, Vanderbilt is launching a free Intensive Outpatient Treatment program for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder to provide additional therapeutic support for patients.
Testimonials
““One of the best things is – the care provided is all in one place, which is priceless for women struggling to make ends meet, attend appointments and care for their children.”
Firefly Peer Recovery Specialist
“We have to work to push through the system, break down barriers, enhance services and create resources to connect women. The ultimate goal for this new program is to support families and optimize care.”
Firefly Executive Director
Donate to Firefly
With your support, Firefly can help address childcare, food insecurity, and other basic needs for women in recovery and their families.
Firefly is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.