L.A. COUNTY PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCEc/o Community Partners
1000 North Alameda Street, Suite 240
Los Angeles, California 90012
Tel: (213) 974-2888
Kimberley Wong, Esq. Task Force Director
The Perinatal Mental Health Task Force, founded in 2007, is currently under the fiscal sponsorship of Community Partners. The Mission of the Task Force is to remove barriers to prevention, screening and treatment services to address prenatal and postpartum depression in Los Angeles County through outreach and community education, professional training, model programs, and advocacy for policy and systems change. The Task Force is comprised of over 35 public and private non-profit agencies and a network of individual volunteers who work together to bring attention to this important issue throughout Los Angeles County and to improve outcomes for individuals and their families who are affected by prenatal and postpartum mood disorders. Through these efforts the Task Force vision is to become a regional resource for the promotion of the health and well-being of mothers, infants and families throughout Southern California and for the reduction of the burden of illness associated with untreated or inappropriately treated maternal mental illness.
Postpartum depression is highly prevalent in L.A. County, has adverse consequences for infant development, maternal-infant bonding, and maternal well-being (depression), and is not being effectively identified or treated. Prenatal depression, which is predictive of post-partum depression, is also not being effectively identified or treated. Screening, referral and evidence-based treatment and support services for prenatal and postpartum depression need to be expanded to address PPD and barriers to accessing existing resources need to be removed through improved education and stigma reduction.
The Atlas Family Foundation grant will fund partial operating support for a half-time Task Force Director, fundraising and development staff, and communications/website maintenance. In addition, funding will contribute to programmatic support for the public awareness campaign (materials and marketing) and the training program for health and human searches providers (curricula and training materials).
Recent AFF grant:
$58,860, December 2010
