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We fund this program to expand health care providers’ capacity to screen, assess, treat, and refer pregnant and postpartum people for mental health and substance use disorders (SUD).
Access our 2024 fact sheet (PDF - 144 KB) about this program.
Awards
We fund 13 awardees to carry out services in their state.
Read the closed notice of funding opportunity (HRSA-23-085).
Our reach
Statewide programs are available in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia. There is also a regional program in Los Angeles County, California.
Image description
A map of the United States indicating which states and regions offer services and activities under the Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders program.
States and regions that have Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders services and activities: Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Los Angeles County, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia.
States that do not have Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders services and activities: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
How this program works
Awardees provide front-line and maternal health care professionals with:
- Psychiatric consultation (in person or virtually)
- Trainings on mental health and SUD screening, assessment, and treatment
- Care coordination services (for example, referrals for treatment and for other community-based resources like peer support groups, housing support, or education)
All training and services are:
- Based on the best science
- Respond to the impact of trauma and its effects on the patient.
- Appropriate to patients’ cultural background and language
Why this work matters
Mental health conditions are the leading cause of pregnancy-related death, according to data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 38 states. This includes deaths due to suicide and drug overdose.
Depression is one of the most common complications during pregnancy and after childbirth. Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1 in 8 women are affected by postpartum depression.
According to data from the CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, depressive symptoms after childbirth are most commonly reported among:
- Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native
- Asian/Pacific Islander
- Black women
Improving the public health system
This program:
- Increases routine mental health and SUD screenings during and after pregnancy
- Provides more access to these services close to where pregnant and postpartum people live
- Considers cultural background and language needs when providing care
Measuring impact
Awardees collect and report data each year so that we know how many:
- Maternal health care professionals get consultations or receive help with care coordination
- Health care professionals are trained on maternal mental health and SUD screening, assessment, and treatment
- Trainings include topics on how responsive care is to the patient's needs
- Community-based mental health and SUD support service professionals are included in the state's referral database
More information
Learn about other programs we fund to address mental and behavioral health.
Looking for additional resources?
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
- National Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network
- Maternal Health Task Force
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Jobs
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