View Maternal Mental Health NOW Impact Report 2025
IMPACT REPORT FY25 July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Dear Friends,
On July 1, 2025, after 18 years under the auspices of Community Partners, Maternal Mental Health NOW exited fiscal sponsorship and began operations as an independent 501c3 organization. In many ways, this transition mirrors the journey of a new parent—from the miracle of childbirth or adoption, the sleepless nights of infancy, holding hands of a toddler learning to walk; to sending your child off on their first day of Kindergarten; the ups and downs of adolescence; the highs and lows of the teenage years; until finally your baby turns 18 and is ready to navigate the world on their own. Yet another moment your parenthood gets redefined. This milestone prompted a period of reflection for Maternal Mental Health NOW’s staff and Board of Directors. In the pages that follow, you’ll find a retrospective of key organizational achievements across various stages of organizational development, including our origins, a period of growth, healing phase and forward momentum. It’s been a journey! One that started with a single family’s experience birthing a local community-based organization to a leader in the movement to center community voice in redefining perinatal mental health care in Los Angeles County and beyond. What remains unchanged is our commitment to ensuring that all of LA County’s birthing people have the mental health resources and support they need as they plan, begin and grow their families. Thank you for being an essential part of this work for the last 18 years. As we venture into adulthood, we need your support more than ever.
With gratitude,
Kelly O’Connor Executive Director
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ORIGINS
2007
Four years after the birth of her daughter and her experience with severe postpartum depression, founder Kimberly Wong convenes a group of committed volunteers, including Cynthia Harding at the LA County Department of Public Health Division of Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, who identify lack of perinatal mental health awareness as the critical gap among healthcare providers. They commit to training providers across LA County to screen for and treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. We are founded as the Los Angeles County Perinatal Mental Health Task Force, a project of Community Partners. Our mission is to remove barriers to the prevention, screening and treatment of prenatal and postpartum depression in Los Angeles County. Kimberly is invited to speak at a meeting of the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment. The Atlas Family Foundation becomes our first supporter. Founding Executive Director, Caron Post, PhD, a clinical psychologist specializing in maternal mental health, perinatal mood disorders and parent-child relationships, is hired.
2009
We co-sponsor the first perinatal mood and anxiety disorder conference in Los Angeles, attended by over 200 providers in LA County and surrounding areas.
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
4
2010
The LAMB Survey reveals alarming statistics on the intersection of perinatal mental health, discrimination and race. 31% percent of Latinx and 30% of Black mothers reported feeling sad, empty or depressed during their pregnancy, compared to 14% of White and API mothers. When asked if they had ever experienced discrimination because of color during their pregnancy, 45% of Black mothers, 29% of API and 19% of Latinx mothers reported affirmative, compared to 9% of White mothers.
2011
We partner with 211 LA County’s Developmental Screening Initiative to screen parents with young children who may have developmental delays for depression and anxiety. We launch a first of its kind pilot project with USC-Eisner Family Medicine to implement an IMPACT model in which perinatal mental health screening and intervention is embedded in primary obstetric and pediatric visits. We develop a basic training curriculum on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and deliver 12 trainings to healthcare providers and organizations including 211 LA County, Esperanza House for Promotoras, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Center, LA Child Guidance and Interagency Councils on Child Abuse and Neglect.
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
5
GROWTH 2012
We release Speak Up When You’re Down, a Public Service Announcement to reduce stigma around perinatal mental health conditions. Other PSAs follow. Gabrielle Kaufman, MA, LPCC, BC- DMT, NCC, PMH-C, a board certified dance and movement therapist and licensed professional clinical counselor experienced in helping new families, is hired as Director of Training and Technical Assistance. We develop a Training Institute to deliver tailored trainings to providers in early childhood education, health, child welfare, criminal justice, mental health and other spaces.
2013
We publish the Bringing Light To Motherhood Community Provider Toolkit, 2nd edition.
We organize the first of many Speak Up When Your Down Family Festivals in partnership with Magnolia Community Initiative (2013-2017).
S
C
Annual Conference: Certification Training with Diana Barnes, Caron Post, Gabrielle Kaufman and Emily Dossett. 2014
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
6
2015
We launch our online training program. To date, we have trained over 30,000 healthcare providers to identify and appropriately respond to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. years of data collection, analysis and recommendations to create better systems of care for people struggling with perinatal mental health conditions across LA County. We become Maternal Mental Health NOW (MMHN), a name change that reflects our programmatic evolution. Our mission remains unchanged. A Systems Change Proposal for Preventing and Treating Perinatal Depression and Anxiety in Los Angeles County & Policy Roundtable. This concept paper reflects seven
2016
The LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously pass a motion to establish a county-wide system for home visitation. National data suggests that home visits are optimal settings for detecting perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Annual Conference: The Intersection of Trauma & Perinatal Mental Health with Joan Maltese, Vivian Burt, Eileen Paris and Hala Khouri.
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
7
2017
Moving Forward: Collaborative Solutions for Perinatal Mental Health in Los Angeles County Policy Brief & Roundtable. We co-host a policy roundtable in partnership with Zero to Three with the goal of moving forward eight recommendations for improving the system of care for people struggling with perinatal mental health conditions. We publish the Community Provider Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit, 3rd edition. Annual Conference: Diversity, Determinants & Disparities in Perinatal Mental Health with Ruth Beaglehole, Wendy Ashley, Kathleen Kendell Tackett, Sayida Peprah, Richard Cohen and Nkem Ndefo.
2018
We co-sponsor AB2193 and AB3032 focused on screening and training for perinatal mental health conditions. Both bills pass and become law in California in 2020.
Perinatal Mental Health Care Integration Guide. This comprehensive implementation guide follows a two-year project to integrate perinatal mental health care at three LA County medical clinics serving vulnerable communities—Harbor Community Clinic, USC-Eisner Family Medical Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health launches the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative. Created in partnership with community organizations, the initiative aims to address the high rates of Black infant and maternal deaths.
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
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HEALING
2018 (Cont’d)
Bringing Light to Motherhood app. An online resource designed to help people who are trying to conceive, pregnant or parenting feel better prepared to adjust to the emotional demands, joys and stressors of their reproductive journey. Improving Outcomes Project. A multiyear project (2018-2021) in partnership with i.D.R.E.A.M. for Racial Health Equity, Cedars- Sinai, Watts Healthcare and Eisner Health to test the effectiveness of interventions specifically designed to advance birth equity for Black birthing people in LA County. Bringing Light to Motherhood online training is approved as an alternate course meeting the 14+ hour training required for a Certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) by Postpartum Support International.
2019
We ensure inclusive language in our work to reflect all birthing people throughout their perinatal journey. leadership and strategic direction for the Black Birthworkers Community, including relationship building and collaboration with mission aligned organizations. She also directs our policy work aligned with our goal of advancing perinatal mental health equity with communities across LA County. Dr. Anna King, PhD, LCSW, PMH-C, joins MMHN. As Director of Training, she facilitates and develops training curriculum and programs, including conferences, through partnerships with healthcare and county institutions. She continues to serve as a member of MMHN’s training committee as well as a member of the Black Birthworkers Community Advisory Council. Kimberly Gray, MTS, joins MMHN. As Director of Perinatal Mental Health Equity, she provides
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
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2020 Black babies in LA County are nearly 3x more likely to die in their first year of life compared to white babies. Black women are 4x more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women. Childbirth is deadlier for Black families even when they’re rich: the richest Black women have infant mortality rates at about the same level as the poorest white women.
2021
Letter to the Editor published in the LA Times.
We launch mmhn.streetwyze.com with hundreds of community-vetted, inclusive and holistic resources for wellbeing. We host an annual series of Courageous Conversations (2021-2024) to reduce the stigma around perinatal mental health by deep diving into topics such as First Foods and Race, Postpartum PTSD and Psychosis, Dads and Postpartum Health, Navigating Trans and Queer Perinatal Health, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Suicide and Suicidal Ideation and The Power of Storytelling. Perinatal Mental Health Conference for Black Birthworkers, Clinicians & Providers. We hold a groundbreaking conference with the mission to engage Black clinicians and providers to increase capacity and competency with their communities.
“ When Black leadership is resourced, the community thrives.
- MMHN staff member
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
10
2022
We partner with the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative to host four perinatal mental health education and awareness events for birthworkers and for pregnant people, parents and their support network. Annual Conference: Whole Person Perinatal Mental Health Care with April Charlo, Sydney Curls, Pilar M’Hat Grant. We launch the Black Birthworkers Community (BBW) Initiative. A direct response from participants at our 2021 conference seeking additional safe and sacred spaces for Black birthworkers to learn, connect, network and celebrate. From its inception, BBW uses a co-design model with a 12-person Advisory Council representing doulas, executives, mental health providers and community advocates. Today, we continue to emphasize participatory leadership— decisions driven with, not for, community.
“
This is the first time I shared an idea and watched it come to life. This is what co-design means—our voices moving directly into action.
- BBW Advisory Council Member
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
11
MOMENTUM 2023
“ As a mother, I understand
We launch Sana Sana, our first direct service meeting community needs. A warmline staffed by certified peer supporters offering English and Spanish speaking callers culturally responsive support, resources, referrals and continuity of care. Perinatal Mental Health 101: What to Know and Perinatal Mental Health 201: How to Help. Developed by MMHN and hosted on the UCLA + Department of Mental Health Prevention Center of Excellence website, this comprehensive training has 3,655 enrollments to date.
firsthand the importance of having the right support during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. As a wife and community leader, I’m deeply committed to ensuring that Black families receive the care and advocacy they need to thrive. Investing in my work is an investment in the wellbeing of Black families. With this [BBW Enrichment] funding, I can continue breaking barriers, creating safe birthing spaces and ensuring that every Black parent has the support they need to birth and parent with dignity, safety and joy.
Reflective of the understanding that liberation comes from within, Executive Director Kelly O’Connor participates in the Liberatory Workplaces training with Social Justice Partners LA.
BBW hosts four joyful and restorative events centering rest, wellness and cultural practice, and strengthens partnerships with AAIMM and the Cedars- Sinai Black Birth Equity Cohort. BBW launches the Enrichment Fund. The fund awards direct, unrestricted funding to support Black birthworkers’ personal and professional needs.
- BBW Enrichment Fund recipient
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
12
2023 (Cont’d)
We launch Your Queer Parenting Journey. A weekly peer-facilitated support group for people in the queer community who are pregnant, navigating fertility, birthing parents, non-gestational parents, caregivers and adoptive parents. We launch Storyectomy* Baby Bumps. A public storytelling program to promote healing and community and reduce stigma around perinatal mental health conditions.
“ I didn’t realize how much I
2024
needed to be in a space where I didn’t have to explain my family structure.
We host From Pain to Power. In partnership with documentary filmmaker Devorah Herbert, Planned Parenthood LA, Black Women for Wellness, AAIMM and Claris Health, this transformative experience unites communities to share stories, make connections, and commit to policy and practice changes in the movement for perinatal mental health justice. We receive the Lark Award, given to community-centered organizations with deep roots in LA for the collective care of their staff.
- Your Queer Parenting Journey support group participant
BBW is selected for a Promising Ventures Fellowship.
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
13
2024 (Cont’d)
BBW launches the Generational Wealth Series. The four-part series connects economic sustainability with healing and community power. PROMISE, a Reproductive Psychiatric consultation line in LA County, is launched. This is recommendation #1 in 2015’s A Systems Change Proposal for Preventing and Treating Perinatal Depression and Anxiety in Los Angeles County & Policy Roundtable. We’ve train all home visitors in LA County through our partnership with the LA County Perinatal and Early Childhood Home Visitation Consortium. This comprehensive training has proven to be a critical intervention that dramatically increases screening rates and detection. Trained home visitors achieved 97%-98% screening rates for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in 2024 compared to only 53% at community clinics through the Los Angeles Maternal Mental Health Access program. Trained home visitors reported 10% positive screening rates for depression and 5% for anxiety, compared to 4% at community clinics, reflecting the inherent capacity of home visitors to build trust with families in the safety and comfort of their own homes compared to clinical settings.
“ This program represents
something rare and valuable: financial education that recognizes wealth-building as both a personal journey and a collective endeavor. - BBW Generational Wealth Series participant
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
14
2025
“ Today was the first time I’ve
Maternal Mental Health NOW officially begins operations as an independent 501c3. Queer & Trans Perinatal Mental Health Webinar Series with Anna Pow, Vann Jones, Marea Goodman and Ash Dasuqi. We launch Strength in Tiny Steps. A weekly peer-faciliated support group for Black moms with babies in the NICU. Strength in Tiny Steps participants co-create wonderful events that meet their needs, including lowkey community gatherings at the park and bringing their partners into the space.
said it out loud to anyone other than my doctor. I felt like I was invisible. But in this group, I don’t have to explain. I feel like people get it. And that makes it a little easier to keep going. - Strength in Tiny Steps support group participant
Where we are today...
KEY
Context & Climate
Community
Peer Support
Policy & Advocacy
Storytelling
Training
Organization
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WHO WE SERVE*
54.7% Latinx
7.2% Black
13.3% Asian
20.6% White
4.2% Other
* Of the approximately 98,000 live births in LA County in 2020
42.2% on Medi-Cal
9% identify as LGBTQ+
“
I’ve watched people grow more into themselves. Some folks just need someone to talk to once or twice. Others have allowed me the honor of walking alongside them for nearly 2 years. We cry, laugh, hope, and honor every bit of life together. I help them come home to center and, in so doing, am reminded to find my own as well. This is the beauty of community care.
- MMHN Peer Supporter
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IMPACT
300 people in our peer support groups
99% of 800+ training participants reported increased ability to recognize symptoms and confidence using screening tools 500 calls to our Sana Sana warmline
98% felt better prepared to implement effective interventions and connect clients to appropriate resources 2,100+ visitors to our resource directory
Our training programs
demonstrate measurable knowledge gains:
300+ Black Birthworkers Community members
96% of BBW’s Generational Wealth Building workshop participants found the sessions inspiring, relevant, engaging and actionable
$15K distributed to Black birthworkers in LA County through BBW’s Enrichment Fund
3 8 participants of the Strength in Tiny Steps support group are training as birthworkers OUT OF
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PROGRAMS
Public Storytelling & Stigma Reduction We provide a public platform for lived experiences to promote healing, community and empathy.
Sana Sana & Direct Community Support We provide immediate help to Black, Latinx and LGBTQ+ birthing families that reflect the diversity of their experiences.
Black Birthworkers Community & Workforce Development We address the physical, economic and social conditions of the workforce serving approximately 7,000 Black birthing people in LA County.
Live & Online Training Programs We provide culturally responsive training to healthcare institutions, social service organizations and county departments to identify and appropriately respond to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
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TEAM
STAFF
BLACK BIRTHWORKERS COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
Durga Abbas, Wellness Coordinator Ivana Arteaga-Rivas, Training Coordinator Kimberly Gray, Director of Perinatal Mental Health Equity Zari Hedayat, Director of Training Kelly O’Connor, Executive Director Sabrina Tom, Development Manager Alex Villalba, Senior Manager of Community Programs
Sinmi Bamgbose, MD Anita Burdette, LCSW Sydney Curls, DPT Kimberly Gray, MTS Ebony Harvey, FNP-C Marquita Jones
Anna King, PhD, LCSW, PMH-C Nakeisha Robinson, MA, LMFT Aziza Shepard, EdD, MPA, LMFT Janelle Watson, LMFT, PMH-C Alina Whitmore, PsyD, LMFT Shiré Wortham, MSW
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eynav Accortt, PhD Mallika Bhandarkar, MPH
Joshua Cohen, CPA Jolene Collins, MD Cassie Gardener Manjikian, MPH Cristina Keefe, MBA Jenna Haeflinger-Kurtz, MA, LMFT Amber Sheikh Starr Thompson Carolyn Yancey, MD, FAAP, FACR Carol Berkowitz, MD, FAA, FACEP (Emeritus) Ellie Berkowitz-Handler, PhD (Emeritus) Elyse Springer MA, MFT (Emeritus) Penny White, MSW (Emeritus)
100% Staff & Board lived experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
85% Staff are people of color
30% Staff identify as LGBTQ+
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SUSTAINABILITY
FY25 Operating Budget $1.17M
55% Foundations & Corporate
15% Earned Income
25% Government
5% Individual Donors
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Eynav Accortt Gretchen Andersen
Gabriel Elgavish First 5 LA Aliza Franklin Jill and Lenny Fromer Victoria Goodhart Garen and Sonya Gozumian Mary Hagander Health Net Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Li Hughes Jewish Community Foundation Duran Jones Kaiser Permanente Cristina Keefe Juliette Kurth LA Care LA County Department of Arts and Culture Kathleen LaGambina Celeste Liversidge
Lisa Osborn Chana Paller Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Alexia Peebles Penske Media Corporation Caron Post Carmen Rezak
Annenberg Foundation Atlas Family Foundation Diana Barnes Vicki Bash Ellie Berkowitz-Handler
Kira Blaustein Tasha Boucher Kristina Budelis Diane Burbie CalMHSA
Lisa Roquemore Rachel Scandling
Amber Sheikh Alex Silverstein Elyse Springer Starr Thompson Tikun Olam Foundation Christopher Wallace Penny White Allise Witt Cheryl Wold
Cedars-Sinai Ankur Chugh Joshua Cohen Jolene Collins Amy Daly David Rogers Charitable Foundation Deutsch Foundation The Durfee Foundation Carol Earley
Kimberly Wong Carolyn Yancey Debra York Rachel Zipursky
David Longwell Cassie Manjikian
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THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
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LACPEC VC Referrals Workgroup
LAMMHA
Over 18 years, Maternal Mental Health NOW has established itself as Los Angeles County's leading voice for perinatal mental health equity. We invite you to join us in our vision to make LA the best place to give birth.
www.maternalmentalhealthnow.org Maternal Mental Health NOW is a 501c3 tax exempt organization. Our federal tax identification number is 99-1790214.
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