Mind the Gap:
Supporting Moms and Families in New Jersey
Empowering Healthcare Providers: Community Calendar of Trainings
The purpose of this calendar is to educate healthcare providers (OB/GYNs, midwives, nurses, doulas, community workers, other allied health professionals) on Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) - the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity.
Browse Calendar, Register for Trainings, and Share with Others
Looking For More Free Trainings?
For Hospitals and Healthcare & Community Care Facilities in Greater Newark, NJ
Examples of Trainings Offered:
Perinatal Mental Health Considerations for Fetal/Neonatal Anomaly
Beyond the Checklist: EPDS & Screening Tools
Informed & Supported Birth for Patients & Providers
Perinatal Mental Health 101 & Resources for You & Your Patients
Birth Trauma Prevention & Response: Responsive & Culturally Humble Interventions
“Thank you for these trainings on mother’s mental health. They are so vital to helping us providers stop and think about the patient in front of us and all of their experiences. It reminds us what we do makes such a difference and I feel more empowered thinking about how I can provide even better care after learning some of the strategies and insights you [PSI NJ] provided.”
-Nurse in NJ
Share your Trainings
Does your organization have PMH trainings for healthcare providers? Share it with us and we will add it to the community calendar!
Free Help and Support for Moms and Families
Moms, are you looking for support for you, your baby, and family? We got you covered! Below you will find a whole list of no-cost resources in NJ that are available to help you.
No-Cost Resources
This section provides a wide range of no-cost resources designed for healthcare providers to provide resources to patients & clients. These include access to support services, professionally designed flyers for patient outreach and PMH education, as well as essential contact information for healthcare providers to share with expectant mothers.
What Helps Moms Feel Heard, Supported, and Safe? 7 Recommendations for Healthcare Providers
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PSI New Jersey, in collaboration with state partners, conducted four focus groups with pregnant and postpartum women in Greater Newark to better understand how healthcare systems and providers can support perinatal mental health.
Moms shared valuable insights about what helps them feel supported, heard, and cared for throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Their feedback informed seven recommendations for healthcare providers and organizations seeking to strengthen perinatal mental health care and improve outcomes for moms and families across New Jersey.
Who to Call for Help
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A free and confidential hotline is available 24/7, providing support in English and Spanish. The service offers a listening ear, connections to local support groups and organizations, and referrals to healthcare professionals when needed.
1-833- TLC- MAMA or 1-833-852-6262
More information here. -
The PSI HelpLine is a toll-free telephone number anyone can call to get basic information, support, and resources.
Call 1-800-944-4773 (4PPD) #1 En Español or #2 English
Text “Help” to 800-944-4773 (English)
Text en Español 971-203-7773
Support Groups for Moms
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Chocolate Milk Café is a national network developed by Black lactation, human milk feeding, and breastfeeding advocates and professionals to provide culturally congruent care to families of the African Diaspora. Using peer-led lactation support groups and professional development programs, we provide education and create sacred spaces to empower and advocate for Black families, on both national and local levels.
More information here. -
Diagnosed with preeclampsia or think you at risk? Enroll in our program today for 1:1 support with a nurse
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D.O.P.E Mamas – No mothers should navigate pregnancy and motherhood alone. D.O.P.E mamas stands for a mama who protects her mental health by Defying Others’ Perceptions and Expectations. Without shame or guilt, D.O.P.E mamas will gain access to therapists trained in mental health in a group or individual setting to support common challenges faced through motherhood including postpartum depression and anxiety.
More information here. -
Griffin Cares Foundation provides free peer support for parents who are coping with pregnancy and infant loss. We offer virtual support groups, peer mentors, and a variety of programs and events to support bereaved families. To get started, please complete the one-time registration form on the website and a caring member of the Onboarding Team will personally reach out. No matter where you are on your grief journey, the Griffin Cares Community is here to help you honor your baby and navigate life after loss.
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Mom Support Group where candid conversations along the intersections of Motherhood, Womanhood & Sisterhood occur.
Presenters are brought in to help navigate all of the parts of life from love and relationships, to finance to connecting with children and more!
The topics covered align with the month of awareness as well as the initiatives of the Melinated Moms community.
More informtion here. -
A postpartum depression support group that offers emotional support, essential mental health guidance, and referrals to trusted health and wellness services. More information here.
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Weekly virtual safe space for new moms & babies up to one years old. Serving Essex, Bergen, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Union & Warren county
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PSI offers over 50+ FREE and virtual support groups.
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Sistahs Who Breastfeed is a monthly meetup for breastfeeding support for new black mothers.
More information here.
Financial Assistance and Free Baby Supplies
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Butterfly Fund Provides an Unrestricted gift of $2000 to help the family transition after a loss.
Assistance with additional fundraising to support family and child resources for grief counseling.
Connection of resources for fathers to assist with grief management. Collection of breastmilk for infant (as requested)Advocacy and support to seek justice in cases of medical neglect (as requested).
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The New Mommy Welcome Kit is for moms who have given birth within the last 3 months. Whether this is your first birth or your 10th, melinated moms want to show mothers the love and support in this new phase of their life journey!
More information here. -
Moms Helping Moms Foundation (MHM) is a baby supply, diaper and period supply bank dedicated to creating a future without childhood poverty by providing babies with the essentials to ensure a safe and healthy start.
More information here. -
MHM Partner Organizations & Resource List is a network of partners who distributes support items. Please contact an organization located close to where you live. The list below is sorted by county. Car seat information is at the end of the document.
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Tonita's Garden provides:
Financial support
Transportation
Classes (breastfeeding and Safe pregnancy)
Diapers, baby clothes, and other baby items
Blood pressure cuffs
Postpartum support
Resources for Moms
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ACOG recognizes the importance of educational tools to help ob-gyns and other women’s health care professionals address perinatal mental health conditions. To this end, ACOG is sharing the Lifeline for Moms Perinatal Mental Health Tool KitTM, developed by the UMass Chan Medical School and reviewed by members of ACOG’s Maternal Mental Health Expert Work Group, to provide actionable information, algorithms, and clinical pearls to support detection, assessment, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
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Mamas in Bloom is designed by and for Black mamas to improve pregnancy, birth, and infant outcomes in Essex and Union County NJ. All mothers are eligible regardless of income. Families can enroll at any point during their pregnancy or within the first 3 months after giving birth. All mamas are provided with wrap-around support for the first year postpartum. The program combines education, advocacy, and clinical care provided by our team of nurses and community health workers. Families are contacted at scheduled points in their pregnancy and postpartum journey to receive education, support, and resources.
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The Melinated Moms University is an integrated learning platform that incorporates the essential tools to become a better version of yourself as a Melinated Moms member.
The goal of the Melinated Moms University is to align with the personal and professional goals of our community members while also providing an empowering space for our community members to grow. -
Navigate Maternity 360 is a full-service remote maternal care platform that provides real-time data monitoring, personalized insights, and seamless communication between patients and healthcare providers. By integrating cutting-edge technology and user-friendly interfaces, Navigate Maternity 360 helps improve maternal health outcomes by closing care gaps and empowering early interventions. With solutions tailored for every step of the maternal journey, Navigate360 ensures mothers receive the care and support they need, from pregnancy through postpartum.
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My Hero's Journey Workbook gently provides a space, place and time for deep self-reflection and growth for anti-racist champions for babies and their caregivers. RRP offers a distinct approach to reflective practice through a racialized lens centered on the tough topics of culture, identity, race, racism, power, and privilege. The content of My Hero's Journey Workbook offers the reader structured worksheets, self-care experientials, journaling prompts, and reflective practices to untangle their own multicultural identities, unpack the impact on relationships, look backwards and forwards, take accountability, and stock up on rest, care, and resources for the continued long journey of this work.
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Library of valuable resources on postpartum/ perinatal mood & anxiety disorders and after pregnancy loss or infant loss
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1:1 Maternal mental health and wellness coaching. Rooted in empathy, trauma-informed care, and culturally conscious peer support. Providing tips, resources, education, and support from fertility to conception all throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond.
Preparing for birth workshops for expecting parents. Developing birth plans, birth vision boards, learning about how to manage pain in labor, what to expect in childbirth, possible interventions, and postpartum recovery.
Postpartum planning workshops for expecting parents to discuss how to emotionally prepare for the big transition. Plan for sleep, circles of support, boundaries, building the “village,” the mental load, education on PMADs, shifts in identity and relationships.
Mommy & Me nature classes. Opportunities for bonding, meeting other mamas, and spending some time in nature. Include a hike, story time, nature themed craft.
Playgroups and meet-ups for moms of babies and littles.
Resources for Providers
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ACOG Perinatal Mental Health Screening Tools help providers identify depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and trauma during pregnancy and the postpartum period using validated screening instruments. Routine screening during prenatal and postpartum visits supports early identification and timely access to assessment, treatment, and follow-up care.
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Free in-person and virtual trainings are available for hospitals and community care centers in Greater Newark, New Jersey, to expand knowledge of perinatal mental health and strengthen support for birthing individuals and families.
For questions or to schedule a training, please contact Kara Kushnir at kara@aworkofheartcounseling.com
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Postpartum Support International offers perinatal mental health discussion tools to help parents track symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. These resources are designed to support conversations with healthcare providers and help individuals advocate for the care they need.
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Postpartum Support International provides downloadable educational materials in English and Spanish to support awareness of perinatal mental health in community and healthcare settings. These resources are designed to be printed and shared as messages of hope and help for individuals during pregnancy, post-loss, and postpartum.
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Postpartum Support International invites qualified healthcare and mental health providers to join its directory supporting families during the perinatal period. Listing is free and helps connect providers with individuals seeking specialized perinatal mental health support, while also increasing visibility of professional services.
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Postpartum Support International offers a curated list of recommended books, journals, and tools for parents, families, and providers seeking support and education on perinatal mental health, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and parenting.
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Postpartum Support International recommends universal screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy and throughout the first year postpartum. This resource outlines best practices for when and how to screen using evidence-based tools, along with guidance on follow-up care and referral systems to support parents and families.
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A Work of Heart Counseling shares a curated collection of recommended books, tools, products, and trusted community referrals to support women, parents, children, teens, adults, and partner organizations. These resources are offered to help individuals and families access practical support, education, and care across a range of needs.
Local and National Organization Support
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A Work of Heart Counseling is a family-centered psychotherapy practice in Northern New Jersey specializing in perinatal mental health, early childhood development, and child/adolescent support. Learn more here.
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The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance that centers Black mamas and birthing people to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.
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The Center for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, part of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, cares for women who are pregnant, postpartum or who are coping with the loss of a baby. Our clinicians are certified in Perinatal Mental Health by Postpartum Support International.
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Centering Pregnancy combines health assessment, interactive learning and community building to help support positive behaviors and improve health outcomes for mothers and their babies and reduce racial health disparities. Centering Pregnancy is a nationally recognized model of group prenatal care shown to improve a wide range of birth outcomes including lowering risk or preterm births, reducing low birth weights and increasing breastfeeding rates.
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Connecting NJ is a network of partners and agencies dedicated to helping New Jersey families thrive. We provide mothers, fathers, grandparents, and guardians free or affordable access to people, organizations, and other sources of information needed to raise healthy children. Connecting NJ utilizes a county-based, single point-of-entry system that simplifies and streamlines the referral process for obstetrical and prenatal care providers, community agencies, and families.
More information here. -
Family Connects NJ is a program that connects parents with a specially trained nurse for a personalized follow up visit at home within the first two weeks after their child’s birth. Visits are offered to all families at no cost, regardless of income, insurance or immigration status.
More information here. -
Gateway Pregnancy Center provides compassionate help to immigrants during a pregnancy. We recently noted women seen from 47 different nations throughout the world
More information here. -
At Hey Black Dad, they believe that strong, prepared, and supportive fathers are the cornerstone of thriving families. Whether one is stepping into fatherhood for the first time or expanding their family, this is a trusted space to find the tools, resources, and guidance a father needs to approach fatherhood with assurance and purpose.
More information here. -
Our goal is to help pregnant and postpartum women living with SUD (Substance Abuse Disorder) sustain recovery, improve their mental and physical health, strengthen family systems, and continue to help rebuild and transform lives
More information here. -
The mission of Melinated Moms is to build a bridge of support that inspires, motivates and cultivates our members to be better versions of themselves. The vision for Melinated Moms is to equip moms and women across the Melinated Spectrum with the tools they need to remove the negative barriers associated with motherhood in women of color.
More information here. -
The Network offers free emotional support, information about parent support groups, connections to community resources, referrals to counseling services (counseling is not provided directly), and grief support after perinatal loss. Spanish-speaking staff are available, and phone interpretation can be arranged for other languages.
With funding from the New Jersey Department of Health, the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC) provides the New Jersey Postpartum Resources and Support Network as part of a statewide program housed within New Jersey’s three Maternal and Child Health Consortia – Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, and Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative – in collaboration with My Kota Bear.
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Nurture NJ has three primary objectives: (1) Ensure all women are healthy and have access to care before pregnancy,
(2) Build a safe, high-quality, equitable system of care and services for all women during prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. (3) Ensure supportive community environments and contexts during every other period of a woman’s life so that the conditions and opportunities for health are always available. -
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative offers a hub of classes & initiatives for supporting Black mamas to THRIVE in pregnancy and beyond.
More information here. -
Therapy for Black Moms is a teletherapy practice in New Jersey dedicated to supporting the mental and relational health of Black mothers from pregnancy to empty nest and everything in between
More information here. -
Therapy Story is a female-led therapy practice in Bloomfield, NJ that brings together a variety of perspectives and expertise to help you navigate life’s challenges and discover new possibilities for your story. Learn more here.
Share your Resources
Does your organization have additional resources for moms and families? Share it with us and we will add it to the list!
