POEM Education Opportunities

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Mental Health America of Ohio and POEM invite you build practices of compassionate care by attending any of our FREE, 2-3 hour webinars, where we will:  

• Discuss perinatal mental health and the impact of stigma, trauma, and care inequities for Black perinatal persons
• Identify barriers to effective screening for perinatal mental health complications with Black moms and birthing persons
• Apply strategies for perinatal mental health screening that consider the cultural contexts and lived experiences of Black moms and birthing persons 
• Discuss best practices in collaborative care and how to connect Black perinatal persons to supportive services

Created in collaboration with Black moms and birthing persons, Black birth workers and perinatal service providers throughout Ohio, and informed by resources provided by national organizations focused on reproductive justice and perinatal health in Black communities, this training series will explore Black perinatal mental health and the impacts of stigma, trauma, and care inequities on access to quality support and treatment. To support screening efficacy, we will identify barriers to effective assessment prominent among Black moms and birthing persons and learn to apply strategies for screening that are both trauma-informed and culturally responsive.  

You can serve as a bridge and pillar of support to mothers and birthing persons through a commitment to providing care that is empathetic, respectful, and attentive to individual needs. This is key in creating care environments where every birthing person, regardless of race or background, experiences a sense of safety and genuine support. 

Register now, for any of our Available Sessions:  

Perinatal Mental Health Screening with Black Birthing Persons 

Thursday, May 9^th, 10a-12p 

Foundations for Perinatal Mental Health Screening with Black Birthing Persons 

Thursday, April 25^th, 10a-1p  

Thursday, May 23^rd, 9a-12p 

*All sessions were developed for care providers such as social workers, community health workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, nurses, doulas, peer recovery supporters, and chemical dependency counselors. For these professionals, a CE application has been submitted. However, the 3 sessions titled “Foundations for Perinatal Mental Health Screening with Black Birthing Persons” will include a comprehensive overview of perinatal mental health conditions and are recommended for any professional, that serves and may screen birthing persons, seeking a more in-depth understanding of the full spectrum of conditions, their signs, and symptoms.

 If you have any questions related to the protocol training series, please review our FAQ or reach out to POEM Education Manager Raquel Williams at rwilliams@mhaohio.org.