Healthy Start Program in Chester County, PA

We focus on screening women for prenatal and postpartum depression and providing them with emotional support, health education, referral to our support groups and/or to behavioral health providers in the area and other services as needed. We are also utilizing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to support women experiencing depression to improve their emotional well-being. The patterns of thought and action that DBT includes - validation, goal-setting, clear communication, prioritization, and stress management techniques 0 are also useful to all new mothers, especially those with preexisting stressors such as poverty and social isolation. 

Objectives: 

Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County (MCHC) has three objectives for there Maternal Depression Project:1) screen all participants for depression on a regular schedule during their enrollment in Healthy Start, using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) tool (during pregnancy, at one month postpartum, and at six months postpartum); 2) hold support groups for women who score at a high level for symptoms of depression; and 3) refer women who have symptoms of severe depression to mental health counseling.