Research confirms what we inherently know: the well-being of children is tied to that of their parents. When parents’ needs are met – both mentally and physically – they are better able to provide what their children need to thrive. Everyone benefits when parents can overcome challenges in achieving greater health and well-being.

With Mother’s Day just behind and Father’s Day ahead, it’s a good moment to reflect on the importance of parents to our state and how we can better support them. Two new initiatives in Maine show promising ways forward.

MOMS Partnership

A mother’s mental health is critical to the healthy development and growth of her children. For instance, issues like anxiety and depression can make it more difficult for mothers to form the early bond their babies need to thrive in their first months. During later stages of parenthood, mental health challenges can continue to affect the ability of mothers to meet the diverse needs of their families.

These conditions are common and can affect any mother, though the risk is much higher for women of color and those with low incomes. In 2021, nearly 30% of Maine’s birthing mothers had a mental health diagnosis, such as depression or anxiety. Treatment and counseling can be effective, but healthcare costs, limited providers, social stigma and lack of awareness prevent many women from accessing supports.

A new program in Bangor, however, is helping dozens of women overcome these obstacles.

The MOMS Partnership – developed at the Yale School of Medicine and implemented in communities across the country – delivers free mental health support to mothers with low incomes who show signs of depression. The multi-week program teaches practical skills for stress reduction and mood management in a group setting where mothers can connect and support each other.

Since Bangor Housing partnered with the John T. Gorman Foundation to bring the model to Maine last year, about 50 women have gone through the program.

Briana Kemp is among them. This mother to two young children said the program is helping her build the confidence, community and skills she needs to move her career and family forward after dealing with mental health challenges.

“Even on bad days, I can say, ‘I am making changes, choices and steps to all these wonderful things, and I know it’s going to work out for my family,’” Kemp said. “I feel like my kids are going to have better opportunities and a better outlook on life because of it.”

Maine Fatherhood Survey

For over 35 years, the national Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey has collected vital information on mothers during and after pregnancy, offering insights into how their mental and physical health compares across years and states.

By contrast, little is known about fathers, for whom there have been no comparable surveys until recently. Launched in 2018, PRAMS for Dads is now implemented in eight states across the country.

Starting early this summer, Maine will be the ninth. With funding from the John T. Gorman Foundation and in partnership with the Maine CDC, the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago will conduct the Maine Fatherhood Survey over 12 months, asking fathers with newborns about their health, economic circumstances and involvement during pregnancy and early parenting.

“No one has a clear idea of what’s happening for dads at a statewide or national level, because we haven’t asked them yet,” said Dr. Craig Garfield, a pediatrician who leads PRAMS for Dads. “In caring for their babies and supporting their partners, dads have a critical impact. We shouldn’t lose sight of how important they are.”

Dr. Garfield said there is a growing recognition of the positive influence engaged fathers have on the health and well-being of mothers and babies. Fathers can buffer stress and depressive feelings for mothers, help improve outcomes in breastfeeding and provide the safe and enriching environments young children need for their healthy development. The arrival of a child can also spark physiological and emotional changes in fathers themselves, Garfield said, providing a key moment for them to make healthy changes that benefit their families.

But without accurate information on their well-being, it is more difficult to identify effective strategies for addressing their challenges and supporting their role as parents, Garfield said. As PRAMS for Dads begins to fill this gap, its data is starting to inform public health initiatives and policies that could benefit the well-being of whole families.

“As a practicing pediatrician, I’ve cared for thousands of babies. And over time I recognized that the most important influences on a child’s outcomes were the people who loved and cared for them,” Garfield said. “If we can support families and understand what their needs are, they can do best by their child.”