Event Highlights

LA Best Babies Network Hosted Workshop to Address Maternal Depression
More than 150 participants attended LA Best Babies Network's Building Capacity to Address Maternal Depression Workshop on March 19, 2008.

"Providing quality care includes depression screening, so women are identified early. Depression has a devastating impact on maternal health and infant development," said Carolina Reyes, MD, executive director of LA Best Babies Network. "Just by asking the right questions we're being supportive and helpful. It's amazing to see the change in client's face."

Workshop participants were challenged to define what they could do in a week, a month and a year to identify and help women vulnerable for depression. The ultimate aim is to identify women with depression early and begin treatment to minimize the long term impact on infant development.

Emily Dossett, MD, MTS, clinical faculty member at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC + USC) Women's and Children's Hospital, who served as moderator for the workshop considers the proper screening and treatment of depression to be "preventive psychiatry" because of the devastating consequences depression can have on mothers, newborns and their families.

The goal of the workshop was to focus on the importance of screening for maternal depression, and to connect Network members with available resources in L.A. County for mothers needing mental health services.

Workshop speakers included, Emily Dossett, MD, MTS, Stephanie Morales, LMFT; Andrea Schneider, LSCW; Leticia Ximenez, PsyD; Gabrielle Kaufman, MA, ADTR, NCC; Ellen Shannon; Liz Ramirez; and Diana Lynn Barnes, PsyD, MFT, who highlighted the following for participants:

• The impact of maternal depression on women, infants and families.
• The importance of social support in prevention and recovery from maternal depression.   
• Strategies for providing culturally appropriate maternal depression care.
• Building capacity for individuals and organizations to effectively screen for maternal depression.
• Building skills to identify and assist someone experiencing maternal depression.
• Resources and reimbursement mechanisms for low-income women needing maternal depression services.

Workshop participants received a number of useful resources, such as:

1.  "Mental Health Coverage During Pregnancy" - a fact sheet, developed by Maternal and Child Health Access, that lays out the available mental health  coverage for low to moderate-income pregnant women.
2. The Department of Mental Health provided:

• The contact information of service coordinators, who can direct individuals needing mental health services to the appropriate resources.  
• A fact sheet with information on the Full Service Partnership Program for Transition Age Youth and Adults, Partnership for Families and Project ABC.

3. Telephone support services and referrals to community resources provided by Postpartum Support International through 1-800-994-4PPD (4773) or by visiting, www.Postpartum.net.
4. "New Moms Connect" - a free support group open to new mothers of all faiths available through the Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles.
5. Referrals to various resources in L.A. County are provided by 211 LA County - a free telephone service.

The Network also provided participants with the "Perinatal Depression Resource Guide for Los Angeles County" that was produced in partnership with 211 LA County.

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