Perinatal Support Washington (PS-WA) is a statewide non-profit committed to shining a light on perinatal mental health to support all families and communities. We support people in the emotional transition to parenthood, including those experiencing depression, anxiety, loss, infertility, trauma, and more. Find out what's new at Perinatal Support Washington.

Our toll-free telephone support line, the "Warm Line", has been operating since 1991, providing peer support to parents in need. We also offer free and low-cost new parent support groups, culturally-matched mental health through peer mentorship, mental health therapy, and training and consultation for health care providers, and education and advocacy. We do all of this with the help of our dedicated staff, board members, and dozens of volunteers.

While we are based in the Seattle metro area, our support resources are found all over our beautiful state of Washington. Check out our directory to search for resources in your area, or learn more about opportunities for collaboration in your community, or become a professional member of Perinatal Support WA. Perinatal Support WA is proud to manage the WA Postpartum Support International State Chapter.

General Description:

The practicum student will work with pregnant and parenting families that are at-risk for or are experiencing a PMAD (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder).

Parent Resilience Specialist or PRS (the role practicum student will assume) are not mental health providers and will be trained in culturally respectful screening, evidenced based behavioral health support, wellness planning, and resource and referral navigation. The PRS will support families to create culturally-specific emotional wellness plans, introduce and discuss mental health care, listen and support families with barriers/reservations about mental health therapy, and walk with families as they navigate formal mental health care or other services as needed.

An ideal candidate will be a parent or person who experienced a PMAD and has personal experience with perinatal mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, birth trauma, perinatal loss, etc. Additionally, they are warm, enthusiastic, collaborative, and professional, enjoying handling many tasks at one time and adaptive to change, with a strong orientation to detail and the ability to work independently with direction. This is a unique opportunity to join a team providing culturally-matched services, this position will support families across King County.

Direct Service (75%)
Manage a caseload of 4-9 caregivers. We currently anticipate this work to be conducted via telehealth and remotely including phone, email, and text support; however, it could eventually include in-person support.
Provide strength-based culturally-specific support about perinatal mental health, create culturally attuned wellness plans that align with parents’ beliefs and values, address barriers, and support taking small wellness steps.
Identify higher-risk families and engage in prevention strategies.
Effectively introduce and complete culturally-respectful perinatal mental health screenings that feel meaningful and supportive, empowering parents to take their next step to address their mental health.
Provide parents with information about perinatal mental health and the full range of treatment options including formal and informal mental health supports.
Support parents to navigate the formal mental health system by providing information and support about how to access care, what to expect, and supporting parents as they engage with treatment providers.
Support parents engaged in mental health therapy by advocating for and with parents, supporting a parent’s treatment plan through the week and when indicated coordinating with treatment providers.

Administrative Tasks (25%):
Maintain administrative tasks of caseload their families including managing your schedule to meet families needs, locating and making appropriate referrals, and more
Track screening measures to ensure they are completed and up to date
Document case notes and progress in the client database
Help families create short and long-term wellness plans that are strength-based, led by the family, and culturally attuned
Telecommute and be comfortable learning and adapting to new telehealth platforms
Assist program team in developing components of the Parent Resilience Program to best support all parents experiencing mental health complications

Option to support and participate in ongoing learning opportunities of communities of providers serving childbearing families in King County (currently we host 3 different specific communities to engage in ongoing perinatal mental health learning/case consultation). Practicum students would be welcome to attend those and support in the coordination for more mezzo-level experience.

Students would be able to shadow various state and county-wide meetings, focus groups, stake holders convenings on legislative and community-based organizing around increasing access to perinatal mental health care for families in our county/state.

possible limited oppertunities TBD

Lots of free perinatal mental health training
fully-remote organization, no in-person required

must be a parent or someone who has experienced a perinatal loss, fertility issues, or PMADs

preferred multi-lingual but not required

Send a cover letter, answer to below questions and resume to: Elizabeth.MooreSimpson@perinatalsupport.org

Answer 3 of the following questions:
1. Tell us why supporting a parent’s mental health during the childbearing period is important
2. Tell us why you’re a good fit to support parents during the childbearing period
3. Tell us about your understanding of barriers to care in the mental health systems
4. Please explain how you would work to destigmatize mental health with your clients
5. How do you talk about mental health in your community?