LAMMHA Resources
Maternal / Perinatal Mental Health Support Resources
Featured Training
Did you know that the number one complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period is depression and anxiety? In fact, one in four people in LA county who are pregnant or postpartum experience perinatal depression. Take this FREE training to learn more about perinatal mental health, how it may impact your patients and their families, and what you can do to offer improved care and support.
This training can be taken anytime, is web-based, self-paced, and offers six (free!) CE credits to LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, LEPs, and psychologists.
Maternal / Perinatal Mental Health Support
- BIRTH EQUITY
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Committed to Black Wellness & Health Program
- FINANCIAL SUPPORT
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Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
CoCM Financing FAQ
Resource for CoCM billing codees
There are different ways to bill for integrated behavioral health care depending on your model and staffing. This handout gives a brief overview of basic CPT and Medicare billing codes for behavioral health integration and Collaborative Care.
Dyadic Services Added as Medi-Cal Benefits and Psychotherapy Updates
Provides information on dyadic services and dyadic caregiver services that have been added as Medi-Cal benefits
APA Resources to learn more about how to get paid in primary care for the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), including reimbursement for the model and funding opportunities available.
APA Best Practitice Toolkit outlining tools for Successful Implementation of the Collaborative Care Model. This toolkit is a compilation of sample tools and resources from pioneer practices who have implemented the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) and are billing for services delivered in the model.
Non-Specialty Mental Health Services: Psychiatric and Psychological Services (Medi-Cal Provider Manual)
Provides ore information on dyadic services, dyadic caregiver services, and psychotherapy updates for CA providers. 24-1107
All Plan Letter (APL) Re: Dyadic Services and Family Therapy Benefit
From DHCS - intended to provide Medi-Cal managed care health plans (MCPs) with guidance on coverage requirements for the provision of the new Dyadic Services and family therapy benefit effective January 1, 2023. - FOOD
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CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, provides monthly food benefits to individuals and families with low-income and provides economic benefits to communities. CalFresh benefits can help buy nutritious foods for a better diet. CalFresh benefits stretch food budgets, allowing individuals and families to afford nutritious food, including more fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Food Pantry Locator - Find a local food pantry near you.
- PARENTING
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First 5 LA, as part of the network of First 5s throughout the state, workign to bring parents, community members, and diverse partners together to help create lasting solutions to supports California’s youngest children. The parenting website provides parenting resources on a wide rang ofl topics,
Welcome Baby provides L.A. County pregnant women and new moms with information, support and a trusted partner to help you through the journey of pregnancy and early parenthood. See site for area hospitals offering the free services.
Parent peer support call line offered through Maternal Mental Health Now (MMHN).
County of Los Angeles Resources for Pregnant Women & Mothers
Pregnant women and single mothers may be experiencing particular food insecurity and hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Los Angeles County, there are several programs and services that help families who have been affected by recent events. Click on the link to check programs and services that might be right for you.
Help Me Grow LA is a free service that connects parents, caregivers, and providers to resources in their community. Help Me Grow LA is a project led by First 5 LA and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, who are joining with partners to make sure all children get connected to the services they need.
LA Best Babies Network coordinates the work of organizations that are dedicated to improving the health of pregnant women, newborns and their families. The Network works to ensure that high-quality perinatal care and social support are available to all families throughout Los Angeles County.
Parent Resources (Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services
These services are free to families regardless of age, immigration status or insurance status. You do not need to have an open DCFS case to access this parenting support.
Throughout Los Angeles County, DCFS partners with CBOs to provide support services and assistance to parents and families who need help. Whether you have a referral or an open case with DCFS, or you’re simply an LA County resident looking for some help these programs listed in the link.
Zero to Three is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Also provides online resources for parents.
Black Infant Health Program (ca.gov) | En español
Program to improve Black infant and maternal health was wella s decrease health inequities in infant and maternal mortality rates. Offers free support and services.
- PERINATAL / MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
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Perinatal Positivity uses the real voices and experiences of women and men who have had mental wellbeing difficulties around the time of pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. There are translations and subtitled versions as well.
California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) Publications
NIH's Perinatal Depression publication online, En español
You can also download a PDF
Maternal Mental Health NOW Materials & Resources includes how to order "Speak Up When You're Down" posters (available in multiple languages)
NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child health and Human Development - Mom's Mental Health Matters resources available for free in English and Spanish.
NIMH video about postpartum depression (English)
To learn more, visit: nichd.nih.gov/MaternalMentalHealth, or call 1-800-662-HELP to find a mental health provider in your area
- Downloadable PSI FactSheets for Parents/HelpSeekers, Professionals/Providers, and a PSI Overview (available in Spanish and English) Posters also available
- PSI Mental Health Discussion Tool - A tool designed for patients to help track mental health symptoms and discuss them with a healthcare provider.
Birth Trauma Association (BSA) Useful Weblinks - Resources for many specific types of birth trauma
National Center for PTSD Trauma-Informed Care Resources - Training options for PTSD treatment
PTSD Coach App - An app designed to help patients learn about and manage symptoms that often occur after trauma.
Did you know that the number one complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period is depression and anxiety? In fact, one in four people in LA county who are pregnant or postpartum experience perinatal depression. Take this FREE training to learn more about perinatal mental health, how it may impact your patients and their families, and what you can do to offer improved care and support.
This training can be taken anytime, is web-based, self-paced, and offers six (free!) CE credits to LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, LEPs, and psychologists.
Headspace and the LA County Department of Mental Health have partnered to provide support and resources during this challenging time. Individauls can sign up to access meditations, as well as sleep and movement exercises, designed to help you care for your mind — all free. You can also scroll down to explore a special collection curated for LA.Headspace is an app that provides mindfulness and mediation exercises designed to help you care for your mind.
Anyone in Los Angeles County can use this resource for free.
Maternal Mental Health - Information on maternal mental health and resources.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) is the world’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping those suffering from perinatal mood disorders, the most common complication of childbirth.
Lifeline for Moms is a consultation service from UMass Chan Medical School that works collaboratively to develop programming capacity and meet the needs of women, providers, and the broader health care community.
The LACDMH Help Line serves as the primary entry point for mental health services with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Available 24/7 at (800) 854-7771 to connect you with mental health professionals and services. Services provided by the Help Line Staff include: - Access Line for Service Referrals, Crisis Assessments and Field Deployments
- Emotional Support Warm Line with Trained Active Listeners
- Veteran Line for Mental Health Support and Connection to Veteran Programs
*Website contains additional resources and help lines
California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Report: PregnancyAssociated Suicide, 2002-2012. Sacramento: California Department of Public Health, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division. 2019.
The Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) provides a wide range of culturally competent services to Medi-Cal pregnant women, from conception through 60 days postpartum. In addition to standard obstetric services, women receive enhanced services in the areas of nutrition, psychosocial and health education.
Free Support and Resources for Your Pregnant Patients!
With virtual visits during the pandemic, First 5 LA’s Welcome Baby program gives expecting families one-on-one education and resources during pregnancy and after their baby is born. The program provides:- Emotional and mental health support
- Connections to free community resources
- Support with breastfeeding, infant care, and home safety
- Help navigating health coverage and keeping doctor appointments
Welcome Baby is FREE for families delivering at a participating hospital — regardless of income, immigration status, or insurance coverage. See how it complements the work of community clinics. Referrals are easy, and patients can sign up at WelcomeBabySupport.org. All services also available in Spanish.
Postpartum Support International
Dedicated to helping families suffering from postpartum depression, anxiety, and distress.
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Greater Los Angeles County (NAMI GLAC) is the leading countywide organization composed of grassroots-based chapters that promotes wellness, recovery, equality, and dignity for individuals and families affected by mental illness and the community at large. We provide leadership in advocacy, education, support, and public awareness throughout Los Angeles County.
NAMI Urban Los Angeles (NULA) is the urban affiliate of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NULA provides education about severe brain disorders, supports increased funding for research, and advocates for adequate health insurance, housing rehabilitation, and jobs for people with serious psychiatric illnesses in communities of color. It also seeks to educate the public about the myths of mental illness to eradicate stigma. NULA seeks to be a beacon of hope in the community it serves.
NAMI Westside Los Angeles offers free education programs along with support, guidance, and hope for the growing number of Angelenos affected by mental health conditions.
CA Dept of Mental Health - Maternal Mental Health - Maternal Child, and Adolescent Health Division (MCHA)
MCAH believes all mothers, parents, babies, and families deserve to live their best lives. However, many pregnant people and new parents experience mental health challenges. Mental health support is an important part of dealing with life challenges and taking care of yourself. An emotionally healthy parent can have a stronger relationship with their baby, which supports healthy child development and family bonds.
MIHA Data Brief, Symptoms of depression during and after pregnancy (ca.gov)
"The Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (MIHA) is a statewide-representative survey of women with recent live births in California, conducted annually since 1999. The survey collects self-reported information about maternal and infant experiences and about maternal attitudes and behaviors before, during and shortly after pregnancy. MIHA is a collaboration between California’s Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) and Women, Infants and
Children (WIC) Divisions, and UC San Francisco’s Center on Social Disparities in Health. "
Indispensable decision support resource for women's health care providers—reliable and relevant, grounded in scientific evidence, and developed through a rigorous and inclusive process.
- PROVIDER SUPPORT
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The DMH + UCLA Public Partnership for Wellbeing is proud to offer a collection of resources and opportunities for support to frontline workers, county employees, school staff, and care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Provider Directory will help you find a mental health provider to best meet your mental health needs. You can use the filters to refine your search.
The Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN) is a group of mental health professionals, advocates, survivors, providers, researchers, and representatives from various agencies and organizations working together to decrease the numbers of suicides in Los Angeles County. Our mission is to promote public and professional awareness, education, training, and engagement regarding suicide and suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention in Los Angeles County. Through the collaboration of the various members of the Network, the LASPN is working to leverage the talent and resources available locally to work towards comprehensive suicide prevention.
- QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
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Institute for Healthcare Improvement, IHI, is a great resource for quality improvement and PDSA information.
- RESEARCH
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Engagement in perinatal depression treatment: a qualitative study of barriers across and within racial/ethnic groups
Researchers examined care engagement factors across and within race/ethnicity to better understand previously observed racial/ethnic disparities in perinatal depression treatment. PDF
PRO-Health was established in 2006 to provide innovative programs aimed at improving the health of underserved populations by collaborating with community partners.
- SOCIAL SERVICES
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211 LA County is the hub for all types of health, human and social services in Los Angeles County, providing callers with information and referrals to the services that best meet their needs
FURS is a free 24/7/365 hotline for current or former foster youth (up to age 21) and their caregivers to receive phone, text, chat and/or in-person support when needed for any issues, big or small.
Food Oasis - A free food directory connecting people needing food to nearby food pantries and meals.
Medical Legal Community Partnership - provides free legal help. Call (818) 485-0575 or e-mail legalhelp@dhs.lacounty.gov.
My Health LA (MHLA) - Provides free health care for adults 26 and older who don’t qualify for public health insurance like full-scope Medi-Cal. Patients can get care at one of 200 clinics across the county.
The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs - Services for those needing assistance. Helps locate services that are nearest geographically.
Trans Lifeline - (877) 565 - 8860
Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for our community that’s been divested from police since day one. We’re run by and for trans people.
Veteran Services - (800) 854-7771 *3 - LACDMH and our partners play a critical role in connecting veterans and their families with services and support. Los Angeles County is home to the highest concentration of military veterans in the country.
It is a priority of the Department to advocate for veterans across the region, wherever that advocacy is needed.
The first-ever community-driven support network serving veterans and their families in the U.S., The Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) connects County departments, non-profits, the VA and L.A. City Programs.
Led by veterans for veterans, VPAN helps you navigate often complicated systems so that you receive the services you deserve. VPAN prioritizes hiring veterans as “battle buddies” and systems navigators to connect their brothers and sisters in need with resources that will help.”
Housing is Key - California's resources for renters, landlords and homeowners. There are resources on their webstie for mortgage relief programs, rent relief applications, and eviction protection resrouces.
In-Home Supportive Services, also known as IHSS, can help pay for services if you’re a low-income elderly, blind or disabled individual, including children, so that you can remain safely in your own home. IHSS is considered an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities.
LA-HOP is designed to assist people experiencing homelessness in LA County with outreach services. "We are refocusing the work of our outreach teams to support the COVID-19 response on our streets. This includes distributing information on COVID-19, supporting linkages to health providers, and distributing supplies."
"The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2-S) Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCC) subcommittee was established under the Mental Health Services Act for the purpose of increasing mental health access and to produce stakeholder priorities which will advise DMH’s action planning toward development and improvement of its services and partnerships to better engage underserved and marginalized cultural and ethnic communities in Los Angeles County.
The LGBTQIA2-S UsCC subcommittee provides DMH with community-driven and culturally specific capacity building project recommendations and/or project concepts for implementation to increase mental health access, awareness, promotion, and decrease stigma with the ultimate goal to reduce cultural and ethnic disparities in access to care and service delivery."
- SUBSTANCE USE IN PREGNANCY
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The MCPAP for Moms Obstetric Provider Toolkit was created to assist front-line perinatal care providers in the prevention, identification and treatment of depression, other mental health and/or substance use concerns in pregnant and postpartum women.
The Service & Bed Availability Tool (SBAT) can help you find the substance use services you, your client, or loved one is looking for.
The SBAT is a web-based tool that provides a dashboard of available substance use services throughout Los Angeles County, including: outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, different levels of residential treatment, withdrawal management, Opioid Treatment Programs (methadone clinics), Recovery Bridge Housing, and DUI programs.
This Clinical Guide provides comprehensive, national guidance for optimal management of pregnant and parenting women with opioid use disorder and their infants. The Clinical Guide helps healthcare professionals and patients determine the most clinically appropriate action for a particular situation and informs individualized treatment decisions.
Sage is Los Angeles County's Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Information System that moves the specialty SUD treatment system from primarily paper-based to an electronic health record (EHR). Sage includes functions such as assessment tools, clinical documentation, data collection, and claims. All SUD treatment providers contracted with Los Angeles County either use Sage as their primary EHR (primary users) or use their own EHR to interface with Sage (secondary users).
This website provides helpful information about the use of Sage. Additional questions may be directed to Sage@ph.lacounty.gov.
Working Together to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse and Overdose Deaths.
Safe Med LA is a broad, cross-sector coalition that will take a coordinated and multi-pronged approach to comprehensively address the prescription drug abuse epidemic in Los Angeles County, guided by its five-year strategic plan.
Overdose education, learn about naloxone, get help for opioid use disorder, resources for professionals
The LA County Department of Health Services has launched a program to help people save lives from opioid overdose. Below are places in LA where you can find free Naloxone/ Narcan and other resources.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Support
CALL OUR 24/7 HELP LINE AT (800) 854-7771. The LACDMH Help Line serves as the primary entry point for mental health services with the Los Angeles County
- Department of Mental Health. Services provided by our Help Line staff include:
- Access Line for Service Referrals, Crisis Assessments and Field Deployments – available 24/7 (option 1 when calling the Help Line)
- Mental health screening and assessment
- Referral to a service provider
- Crisis counseling
- Mobilizing field response teams
- Linkages to other services and resources
- Emotional Support Warm Line with Trained Active Listeners – available 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (option 2 when calling the Help Line)
- Veteran Line for Mental Health Support and Connection to Veteran Programs – available 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (option 3 when calling the Help Line)
Overdose education, learn about naloxone, get help for opioid use disorder, resources for professionals
(800) 788-7386
The Trevor Lifeline provides support to LGBTQ youths and allies in crisis or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk.
- TRAINING FOR PERINATAL PROVIDERS
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Thousands of women and babies get very sick each year from preeclampsia, a life-threatening hypertensive disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Preeclampsia and related disorders such as gestational hypertension, HELLP syndrome, and eclampsia are most often characterized by a rapid rise in blood pressure that can lead to seizure, stroke, multiple organ failure, and even death of the mother and/or baby.
Their purpose is to improve the outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy by educating, supporting and engaging the community, improving healthcare practices, and finding a cure.
The Train New Trainers Primary Care Psychiatry (TNT PCP) Fellowship is offered by the UC Irvine School of Medicine and is intended to provide mentorship and teaching skills in the area of primary care psychiatry.
The Train New Trainers Primary Care Psychiatry (TNT PCP) Fellowship Scholarship is a scholarship program offered by California’s Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) for primary care physicians who have been accepted into the UC Irvine/UC Davis Train New Trainers Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship.
- VALIDATED SCREENING
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The Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color (PMHA-POC) is working to bridge the gap in perinatal mental health support services for birthing persons, providers, and communities of color. One offering is an on-line Peer to Peer support is an invaluable part of recovery. PSI offers over 20 free virtual support groups to our help seekers. Among these are specialized groups in English and Spanish for BIPOC help seekers.
The Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) tool is a set of four brief suicide screening questions that takes 20 seconds to administer.
Every Woman Counts (EWC) provides free clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams, and Pap tests to California’s underserved women. The EWC program saves lives by preventing and reducing the devastating effects of cancer for Californians through education, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and integrated preventive services. Check the website for qualifications of free services.
- Patient Health Questionnaire Screeners (in 30 languages)
- PHQ-9 and PHQ-2
- GAD-7 (brief anxiety screener)
- OTHER
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Foundation for Health Care Quality
Obstetrical Care Outcome Assessment Program (OBCOAP): OB COAP is a collaborative quality improvement program helping obstetrical care providers deliver optimum care to the childbearing people and the babies they take care of. The goal of OB COAP is to facilitate the cycle of utilizing data to inform knowledge to generate practice change. To enable this process, OB COAP members have access to a host of both standardized and customizable real-time reporting tools at the patient, provider, provider-group, hospital, system and program aggregate level.
Los Angeles County Birth and Postpartum Resources (Empowered Postpartum) - A resource list comprised of professionals in the field of perinatal health.
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is a federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.
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OneDegree is a social service referral platform that helps individuals and families access the resources they need to improve their lives and achieve social and economic mobility.