The Renée Crown Wellness Institute is partnering with the University of Colorado Center for Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness who recently received a significant grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau. This grant marks a pivotal moment in maternal mental health and wellness, as it aims to establish and implement a pioneering perinatal psychiatry consultation and access program throughout Colorado.
Named PROSPER (Perinatal Resource to support Obstetric Screening, Psychiatric education, Equity and Referral), this initiative seeks to revolutionize the approach of frontline healthcare providers to perinatal mental health and substance use conditions. Practice enrollment and provider consultations will begin in this summer.
The Crown Institute will evaluate the impact of the PROSPER program, focusing on workforce development and the wellness of Coloradans during the perinatal period. Laurel Hicks, PhD, one of the investigators on the project, states that, “this is an incredible opportunity to make a difference in maternal mental health across the entire state. Most importantly, we will be able to target practices that are more rural and have fewer resources, offering them support so they may serve their patients with the latest, evidence-based mental health care.”
PROSPER aims to enhance healthcare professionals' skill and capacity to conduct universal screening, assessment, and treatment within routine obstetric and primary care settings. This is achieved primarily through real-time phone and e-consult access to reproductive psychiatrists, and one-time face-to-face patient consultations for diagnostic clarity and to guide treatment in the obstetric or medical home. The goal is to ensure that that all new parents receive evidence-based mental health support during the perinatal period.
A Holistic Approach to Maternal Wellness
But PROSPER goes beyond screening and treatment; it takes a holistic approach to maternal wellness, including addressing perinatal substance use. Free educational programs will promote health equity, acknowledging the diverse needs of parents across Colorado. Additionally, the consultation line is staffed by a resource and referral specialist who will provide resources to connect individuals with culturally and linguistically appropriate community-based treatment and support services for both mental health and substance use.
“Recent data continues to show that suicide and unintentional overdose are the leading causes of maternal death in the first year postpartum in Colorado, making them the most common obstetric complication. When we think about the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on future health and mental health, the loss of a parent during infancy is huge and impacts the whole family and community,” says lead psychiatrist and project director, Celeste St. John-Larkin, MD. “PROSPER will provide a lifeline for health care providers trying to prevent these tragic outcomes.”
Alma Program: Peer Mentor Support
Additionally, PROSPER includes building community capacity through training individuals with lived experienced in the Alma Program. This program, developed by researchers at the Crown Institute and community members, is an 8-week, peer-delivered, evidenced-based program that supports new mothers who experience mental health challenges. The peer mentors deliver Behavioral Activation and provide invaluable support to parents’ facing similar challenges, fostering community and solidarity in their journey towards wellness.
As part of the statewide perinatal psychiatry access program (PROSPER), the Crown Institute's Alma Program will partner with a community agency to provide Alma training. This will offer a direct referral to peer support and build skills within the community.
Crucially, PROSPER is committed to addressing health disparities across all communities statewide. Maternal mortality rates are 2-3 times higher for the following Coloradans: Black/African American and American Indian/Alaska Native women, mothers living in very rural (Frontier) counties, and Medicaid enrollees. PROSPER’s expert panel of health equity psychologists, representative of populations experiencing the greatest maternal health disparities, have been thoughtfully informing program development since its inception. A community advisory board will be added this summer to ensure sensitivity to the unique needs of different communities, while striving to uplift those who are most marginalized and in need of support.
PROSPER is holding a “Kick-Off” event on May 15th, in honor of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. Community stakeholders, including primary care and obstetric or midwifery health and mental health care providers are invited to join us at the Anschutz Campus in Aurora. This will be an opportunity to share perspectives, hopes and needs of the community, and provide feedback on draft website materials and other plans as the team prepares to launch Colorado’s perinatal psychiatry access program later this summer. RSVP here
The PROSPER program is deeply thankful for the collaboration and support of numerous partners, including the the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE), Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative (CPCQC), Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation-Healthy Expectations Perinatal Mental Health Program, CU Boulder Renée Crown Wellness Institute and Alma Program, Hard Beauty, and various other community-based organizations. Together, we are taking a monumental step towards ensuring the mental health and wellness of parents across Colorado.
Please email to get involved or for more information: PROSPER@ucdenver.edu.