Maternal Mental Health

Our Maternal Mental Health Programming supports mothers and those in mothering roles in their journey as individuals and as caretakers. All services are client directed and respond to needs identified by participants. Services include care coordination, referrals, support groups, therapeutic groups, and an individualized psychoeducational curriculum. The objective of all programming is to promote individual wellbeing in a way that also creates space for families and communities to flourish emotionally and physically.

For more information, please contact Sarah Caldera Wimmer, Director of Emotional & Physical Wellness, at scaldera@lifewisestl.org or (314) 260-6382.

Apoyo y Cariño (Support and Care) is a program funded by Generate Health that focuses on intervention to Latina mothers who are pregnant or parenting babies through 24 months of age. Latina women are at a high risk of depression or anxiety and they face unique challenges, including isolation, trauma, and lack of access to community resources. The consequences of maternal depression are dire because they affect both the mother and her child.

Apoyo y Cariño offers supportive services through targeted case management that focuses on issues relevant to new and immigrant mothers, including translation and interpretation, assistance with Medicaid and other healthcare obstacles, and navigating childcare to name a few. The program also has close connections with other community resources to assist with referrals including WIC, legal services, daycare, etc.

Apoyo y Cariño also offers individual therapy and psychiatry referrals that include culturally relevant interventions for women who are experiencing post postpartum depression or anxiety. Activities are group driven and include topics such as mother-child attachment, physical and mental wellness, parenting, and community resources.

For more information, please contact Sarah Caldera Wimmer, Director of Emotional & Physical Wellness, at scaldera@lifewisestl.org or (314) 260-6382.

Planning for a baby can be an exciting time, but the stress of the unknown can also weigh heavily on expectant mothers. Project BEGIN is a program for working (or studying) mothers to help them plan for the maternity leave they envision. Mothers are assisted with financial planning, leave planning and other issues that might arise during pregnancy. They are also assisted with advocacy support, benefits applications and emotional support. The goal of the program is for mothers to feel less stressed during their leave so they are able to spend their time developing a healthy bond with their new baby. Postpartum support is offered in the form of continued emotional support, benefits applications, food and diaper assistance, and financial coaching.

For more information, please contact Sarah Caldera Wimmer, Director of Emotional & Physical Wellness, at scaldera@lifewisestl.org or (314) 260-6382.