Issue #47
How We Work
Postpartum Support International 23rd Annual Conference
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LA Best Babies Network
employs five interrelated strategies to improve the health and well-being of
women and families in Los Angeles
County. A prime
illustration of this approach is the Network's efforts around perinatal
depression, a major public health concern, and one that can have devastating
emotional and financial costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12 percent of new mothers suffer from postpartum
depression. Depression during
pregnancy can lead to low birthweight, a lack of bonding between mother and
child, and can adversely affect the baby's cognitive and physical development.
And yet, treatment through psychotherapy or a combination of therapy and
anti-depressant medication can offer quick relief. There is no reason for a
woman to endure prolonged suffering, endangering herself and her baby.
The Network's Five Strategies:
1. Caring
for Mothers-To-Be
The Best Babies Collaboratives comprise more
than 40 agencies in communities with a concentration of high-risk pregnancies.
These agencies work together to improve and expand perinatal care through intensive
case management, social support, sharing of best practices, and health
education. A case manager works with a client for two years, acting as mentor
and wellness coach. She becomes attuned to her client's needs and is also trained
to screen for perinatal depression. If a client screens positive for
depression, her case manager can then link her to resources such as mental
health professionals and psychosocial support services.
2. Improving
the Quality of Perinatal Care
The Healthy Births Care Quality Collaborative is
a cooperative effort among 10 clinics to provide high-quality, comprehensive,
and culturally sensitive perinatal care. The clinics emphasize early and
frequent screening, with the goals of detection, treatment, and prevention of
conditions like depression. With the Network's support, the clinics enhance their
ability to deliver evidence-based care, engage patients in the management of
their own health, and discover how to improve the healthcare system itself.
3. Creating
a Network of Caregivers and Advocates
The Healthy Births Learning Collaboratives provide
a forum where perinatal caregivers and advocates can keep current on best
practices, and coordinate strategies for improving the health and well-being of
their communities. The Network offers workshops
and training materials on maternal depression, and connects perinatal
caregivers and advocates to available resources.
4. Sharing Knowledge and Resources
Network staff provide a support system for the
collaboratives and other strategic partners. This includes assistance with
program-planning, project-management and training. The Network helps its
members to confront challenges like maternal depression by keeping them
up-to-date with the latest research, educational materials and Web-based data sharing.
It also helps synchronize members' and partners' efforts, in order to avoid duplication
and, more importantly, to avoid gaps. Network members collaborated with the
agency, 211 LA County, in the creation of a comprehensive database of caregivers and advocates for women suffering from maternal depression.
5. Advancing Policies that Advance Healthy Births
The Network partners with
several organizations and communities to craft policies that promote the health
and well-being of pregnant women and their babies. In 2009, the Network issued
the policy statement "Access to Quality Care for Maternal Depression: Meeting the Challenge," which calls for increased resource allocation for maternal
depression, identifies best practices for its treatment, and outlines changes at
the legislative level that would raise the standard of mental health care for
all pregnant women. These include universal screening for depression, insurance
coverage for its treatment, and more educational opportunities for health
professionals.
Learn more:
LA Best Babies Network Perinatal Depression Resource Center
Perinatal depression information from the U.S. Department of Health
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Postpartum Support International
23rd Annual Conference
August 4-7, 2009
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The theme of this year's conference is:
Community Partnerships in Addressing Perinatal Mood Disorders: Clinical and Integrative Perspectives
Where:
The California Endowment
Center for Healthy Communities
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Description: The PSI annual conference is an educational activity for its members
and professional care providers such as obstetrical providers,
gynecologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses,
social workers, counselors and therapists, support and resource
providers, educators, laypersons, consumers, and others interested in
the topic of maternal mental health. Its purpose is to increase education and
integrated access to informed resources and support for perinatal mood
disorders (PNMDs).
Postpartum Support International Website
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