Krista Flaherty, LCSW, MSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and manager of the Allegheny Health Network Perinatal Hope Program. She provides care for pregnant people and new parents with substance use disorders, a population that faces an extraordinary degree of stigma.
Perinatal Hope provides patients with medications for opioid use disorder, in addition to OB-GYN care and support with social needs. Krista has sought out resources and funding to ensure Perinatal Hope patients have necessary baby items.
At Perinatal Hope, Krista leads a team that includes nurse practitioners, social workers, and other medical providers. She also collaborates with numerous entities outside her program to ensure that her patients receive appropriate healthcare and additional services. In just a few years, she has expanded the program beyond Allegheny County and now provides services at eight locations in southwest Pennsylvania.
Krista’s nomination describes her as a “strong advocate for women’s health” and a “voice of reason” who “continuously strives to keep women and their children connected.”