DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Update On Public Health Mothers And Babies Program
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Receive an update on the Public Health Mothers and Babies Program
SUMMARY
The Mothers and Babies program is a mental health intervention that is effective in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress and increasing social support and coping skills. The course is framed as a stress reduction intervention administered through nine sessions incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment theory, and mindfulness. The intervention was initially developed for the prenatal and postpartum periods but can be adapted for beyond 12 months postpartum persons. It can be delivered one-on-one within a Family Home Visiting program or in groups, either in-person or virtually.
In April 2022, three Family Home Visiting staff received Mothers and Babies program training. In June 2022, those three staff attended the Mothers and Babies Train the Trainer opportunity offered by Northwestern University, and in August 2022, they began hosting Mothers and Babies training for Family Home Visiting Public Health Nurses, Community Health Workers, and Health Promotion staff. Since then, 40 Public Health staff have received Mothers and Babies program training.
The Mothers and Babies program is offered to clients experiencing depression, anxiety, or a period of increased stress within the context of Dakota County's Family Home Visiting program. Upon program initiation, the home visitor administers a validated depression screening tool, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 score indicates the client's severity of depression on a scale of 0-27. After completing the nine Mothers and Babies program sessions, the PHQ-9 is administered again to measure the program's effectiveness in addressing the client's symptoms of depression (Attachment: 2022 Mothers and Babies Depression Screening Data). Additionally, each client completes...
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