Circle of Moms
Free Emotional Support Groups
Motherhood can be hard, but it does not have to be lonely.
Are you feeling overwhelmed? You are not alone!
As the first program of its kind in Palm Beach County, Circle of Moms is designed to support the one in five women who will experience depression and other mood and anxiety disorders before, during and after pregnancy. Through screening, peer-to-peer support groups, individualized care coordination and training for health professionals, this program reaches both pregnant and postpartum mothers and promotes healthy moods, bonding strategies with babies and how to cope with stress.
Circle of Moms uses the Mothers & Babies curriculum, a stress management intervention that provides pregnant women and new moms with specific skills and strategies for how to manage stress in their lives. With nearly 20% of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies clients who screen positive for depression, Circle of Moms provides a trusting atmosphere for mothers and their support partners to gain a better understanding of their emotions and focus on the mental health of themselves and their babies.
Maternal Mental Health Trainings for Professionals & Students
To promote awareness about mental health issues related to pregnancy and postpartum, we offer Maternal Mental Health Trainings, which are intended for students, physicians, nurses, pregnancy care providers, mental health professionals, case managers, and any other professionals who support perinatal women.
In our trainings, participants learn about mental health disorders that occur in pregnancy and postpartum. The training provides tools and information to enhance quality of care and improve healthcare outcomes for perinatal women who experience depression, anxiety, and other behavioral health concerns. Protective factors, risk factors, treatment options (including our Circle of Moms support groups), and resources are covered!
The training is free, approximately 90 minutes, and can be adjusted to meet your group’s needs. Please contact Maternal Wellness Coordinator, Elais Perez at eperez@hmhbpbc.org to schedule a training for your group today!
Mothers and Babies Group
Mothers and Babies is an evidence-based intervention for pregnant women and new parents to help manage stress and prevent postpartum depression—typically completed in 6 sessions. These groups cover a variety of topics that help perinatal women cope with stress and/or depressive symptoms.
Topics covered in Mothers and Babies include:
Tools and support for pregnant and new parents to help manage stress
Promoting healthy bonding with baby
Promoting healthy communication and social support
Techniques and activities to help babies learn
Circle of Dads Group
Circle of Dads are peer-to-peer support groups that provide safe spaces for dads to learn from other dads! We invite dads to talk about parenting challenges and successes. Dads play important roles and we are here to listen and support them along the way. We welcome both biological fathers as well as father figures. Dads who are expecting (pregnant) or have children ages 2 and under are eligible to attend the groups.
Topics covered in Circle of Dads include:
Emotional wellness for new and expecting dads
Relationship changes during pregnancy and after the baby is born
What to expect during the postpartum period
Signs of postpartum depression and anxiety in parents
Couples Becoming Parents Group
Couples Becoming Parents is a group that explores the changes couples experience as they enter parenthood, which is both exciting and challenging. In this group, couples connect with other couples to share successes, experiences, and concerns in a safe and confidential space.
Topics covered in Couples Becoming Parents include:
Forming a new family
How to improve communication and intimacy
Strategies to better parent your child together
Caring for mom during childbirth and postpartum
Signs of postpartum depression and anxiety in mothers and fathers
Thank You
Circle of Moms is made possible with funding from Ellen & Ronald Block Family Foundation, Health Care District of Palm Beach County, Hearst Foundations, Kingdom Charitable Trust, Quantum Foundation, and Town of Palm Beach United Way.
Upcoming Sessions
Click on a class to learn more and to register
For more information about Circle of Moms, call 561-517-1551
email circleofmoms@hmhbpbc.org
or use our contact page to reach us