January Newsletter

Dear Maternal Mental Health Champion, 

Thank you to those who joined us for our January 24th Maternal Mental Health Task Force meeting. We had 30 attendees! A special welcome to those who joined us from Carelon Behavioral Health Services, April Myers and Andrea Serna.

We hope you are all Saving the Date for the MMH Forum in March. Please check out the infographic What is the MMH Forum? with more details of what the Forum entails. 

Key Highlights: 

• April and Andrea, both from Carelon Behavioral Health Services, presented on their maternal mental health program. Please feel welcome to review their informative slides HERE. 

  • They highlighted their services which include Screening & Outreach, Linkage, Education and Collaboration. 

  • They shared a flow chart of the referral process and getting patients connected to services, including their referral forms for case management support. 

  • In 2023, there was a 65% sustained engagement rate with those referrals for MMH that were received. 

• Jessica Jarrett, with Monterey County Health Department, shared the WellScreen Monterey County website resource, from which individuals can screen themselves in the comfort of their home, and then receive information about local resources. Providers may also support the use of the tool by sitting with individuals while they browse the tool, and it can be an entry to further discussion and support. 

MMH Annual Forum Planning Committee Meeting - February 13th, 1pm-2pm, virtual

MMH Awareness Week Planning Committee Meeting - February 8th, 11am-12pm, virtual

We hope to see you at the next Task Force meeting on Wednesday, February 28th at 3:30pm! 

Please SAVE THE DATE for our March Task Force meeting which will be IN-PERSON at the Monterey County Health Department, Whitney Room. More details next month!

• Registration Coming Soon! The Maternal Mental Health FORUM is scheduled to take place on Tuesday-Wednesday, March 19-20, 2024. Stay tuned for registration to join us in person for a community webcast. 

• You are invited to join the Kween’s Kouncil to celebrate their one year anniversary on Sunday, February 4 from 2:00pm - 5:00pm. 

• Check out some new support groups at Ohana for adults with children that are free.

• Community Crisis Line of Monterey County: Help share in English or Spanish

• Maternal Well-Being Playgroups for mamas wanting to connect with their child and with other moms. 

• Community Lactation Support groups in Salinas and Soledad.

• Stay and Play for families available for free at various Monterey County Free Libraries.

• Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Groups & Warmline for help and local referrals, call 831-783-5933. The Parenting Connection of Monterey County offers Wellness Circles in English and Spanish. 

• Complimentary Perinatal Mental Health 101 Webinar:

  • February 29, 2024 - Register here

• Join WIC for a virtual training on Lactation Accommodation in the Work Space that will take place on February 8th, 2024 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm

• Postpartum Support International & the Policy Center have developed a Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training for Mental Health and Clinical Professionals. This online webinar series includes eight live sessions, small group discussions, supplemental reading materials, 16 continuing education credits (where applicable), and a certificate of completion. 

• Become a Certified Birth Assistant through this free class by Black Sisters Birth Academy

• Employees are entitled to a place to pump at work, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public. Learn more about FLSA Protections to Pump at Work

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among women of child-bearing age. Postpartum or childbirth-related PTSD (CB-PTSD) is not uncommon and may be precipitated by a stressful or traumatic childbirth experience. 

• New Initiatives Address the Maternal Mental Health Crisis: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding more than $103 million to support and expand access to maternal health, forming a new task force. 

• The Policy Center released a Fact Sheet on Childcare and Maternal Mental Health. This fact sheet highlights current barriers to childcare access and how these barriers impact maternal mental health.

• BrightLife Kids: a CalHOPE program by Brightline is designed to give children the behavioral and emotional support they need to succeed. 

• Postpartum Planning for Expectant Parents Class: Learn more and share.

• Maternal Mental Health: Fact Sheet

• The Policy Center published a new resource for obstetric care providers and patients: a menu of prevention and treatment options. 

• Check out these Postpartum Support International: Educational Materials

• Join the Maternal Mental Health Nonprofit Nation listserv to connect, learn about funding opportunities, and more. 

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) launched a new eModule, Addressing Perinatal Mental Health Conditions in Obstetric Settings.

• Spanish-Language Healthy Start Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Brochures.

• Fruit Puree Recall and High Levels of Lead: Please read and help share.

• Listen in on the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality podcast episode on Connecting Infant and Maternal Health Outcomes. 

• Infant Deaths Have Risen for the First Time in 20 Years. Read this NY Times article.

• A team of birth keepers in Washington is drawing on Indigenous knowledge and culturally competent care to help Native women reclaim birthing practices, parenting practices, and community. Read this inspiring article.
• Fewer Than Half of Women Attend Recommended Doctors Visits After Childbirth. Read this study by Johns Hopkins researchers. 

• A Comprehensive Review of Motherhood and Mental Health: Postpartum Mood Disorders in Focus.

• What is the risk of perinatal anxiety and depression if you have ADHD?