The Mental health Outreach for MotherS (MOMS) Partnership is a proven program model that improves the mental health and well-being of overburdened, under-resourced mothers.
Through strong community partnerships and innovative engagement strategies, MOMSmeetsmotherswheretheyare bringing mental health support directly into the spaces where mothers feel most comfortable in their neighborhoods, community health centers, or other places they gather and live, as well as through convenient virtual classes.
Pairing evidence-based programming with opportunities to build practical skills, MOMS makes mental health care accessible, culturally responsive, and immediately relevant to daily life for women who are pregnant and/or raising children and adolescents up to age 18.
Through partnership, MOMS reaches mothers in a wide range of settings and communities, and with diverse cultural backgrounds.
“I have learned a lot while in the class. The instructors were very informative, creative, encouraging, understanding and really met each person where there were at that moment.” MOMS Participant
Real Connections, Real Results
For more than 14 years, MOMS Partnership has connected mothers to communitybased programs that strengthen mental health, reduce stress, and build stronger families and communities.
mothers have participated in MOMS programming sites have launched MOMS outside of New Haven, Conn., where it began
And MOMS continues to grow nationally
Mothers Engage. Learn. Thrive.
MOMS creates an environment where mothers feel supported, build lasting connections, and gain practical skills they can use every day.
of mothers reported being “Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied” with the MOMS Stress Management Course.
classes attended on average, demonstrating strong engagement.
Proven Impact on Mental Health and Well-being
of mothers use the skills they learn in MOMS classes “Often” or “Every Day.”
MOMS Partnership consistently achieves outcomes that move the needle on depression, anxiety, stress, and social support. Across sites, data demonstrate robust, statistically significant improvements from program start to program end in maternal mental health and well-being:
ements in Mental Health: Statistically ant reductions in symptoms of depression xiety, and in perceived stress after ting MOMS programming, sustained at 3follow-up.
ements in Social Support: Statistically ant increases in perceived social support ompleting MOMS programming, sustained at h assessment.
Get to Know the MOMS Partnership
The Mental health Outreach for MotherS—MOMS Partnership—was founded in New Haven, CT, as a coalition of community partners united by a shared goal: to address the needs of women facing economic hardship.
Today, MOMS Partnership has grown into a recognized program model with a distinctive set of core principles and tested strategies that guide impact and expansion:
Evidence-basedprogramsthatbuildskills to strengthen mental health, relationships, parenting, and work success.
Socialconnectionfostered through group classes where mothers learn from and support one another
Accessibleclassesin community spaces or live online platforms
Strategiestoaddressbarriers to mental health care for mothers
Co-deliveryby a clinician and Community Mental Health Ambassador blending professional expertise with lived experience
Culturallyresponsivedesignthat is relevant and relatable, and goes beyond linguistic translation
Datatoguidecontinuousimprovementto enhance engagement, meet goals, and measure meaningful outcomes
Programs That Work
MOMS Partnership offers a suite of programs for mothers that are grounded in science and designed to support mental health, positive parenting, and the development of soft skills applicable to employment/work-related goals and contexts.
Parenting D.A.N.C.E. (Delivering Approaches to Nurture Children’s Emotions)
An 8-session parenting program for women/mothers raising children ages 012 years, with both group and individual sessions The program is designed to strengthen parent-child relationships through strengthening parenting skills to tune into, understand, and manage children’s (and their own) emotions.
MOMS Stress Management Course (MOMS SM)
An 8-class group program that is the cornerstone program of MOMS Partnership. This course teaches a variety of ready-touse skills that are grounded in cognitivebehavioral therapy (CBT) and help with managing mood, stress, and relationships. Cultural adaptations are available Manuals in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
Personal Skills for Work Success (PSWS)
A 10-class group program that teaches a range of skills rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that are applied to work/employment-related contexts. The program aims to increase “soft skills” (e.g., communication) and self-management behaviors to promote employability and successful, sustained employment.
Hear What Participants Are Saying About MOMS
“It was a very fulfilling experience to connect with other moms who are going through similar things.”
“Loved the material. Loved learning new coping skills for managing stress to become a better parent.”
"I wish we had more sessions! The group support was invaluable, and I use the skills every day."
“I really enjoyed the MOMS group because it gave a positive outlook on life and how to deal with stressful situations in a positive way. ”
“The instructors made the space feel safe and comfortable enough to be open. The lessons were easy to follow and apply.”
"Very good program for all parents who want to do better for their kids to learn better ways to parent them."
"I use what I learned in my everyday life, during my work and also when I was looking to be employed."
"This program has truly changed the way I handle stress. I feel more confident and less overwhelmed."
"In addition to learning how to better prepare myself for the workforce, I've learned skills that better improve my everyday life as well."
Bringing MOMS Partnership to Your Community
Elevate Policy Lab, based in Yale Child Study Center, is the steward and scaling engine for MOMS. Elevate collaborates with local partners to bring the MOMS model to new communities.
Elevate provides:
1.Training for the local MOMS team
2.Technicalassistance to support successful implementation of the MOMS program, including tailoring strategies to fit your community and using data in real time to guide improvements
3.Programevaluation to assess impact, inform process, and support program sustainability
4.Culturalandpopulation-specificadaptations of MOMS programs to meet specific needs of mothers in your community
New adaptations are special projects that are done on an as-needed basis MOMS cornerstone program—the Stress Management Course—has been adapted for multiple specific populations of mothers that are available for use
The Pathway to Partnership
When you become a MOMS site, you gain access to a full support system designed to build your team’s lasting capacity to reach mothers in your community Elevate supports your team from Program Setup through Program Sustainment:
Program Setup
Your team engages in MOMS Program Setup Course, including training and technical assistance with Elevate This phase covers onboarding, training in one or more MOMS program, and training in the core MOMS implementation strategies.
Program Launch
Your team receives handson support during the initial MOMS implementation period (i.e., through two consecutive groups). This phase includes technical assistance with Elevate and customized data reports to guide improvements in real time as programming unfolds.
Program Sustainment
Your team becomes part of the MOMS Network—a national community of MOMS Partnership sites. This phase includes ongoing access to crosssite learning, training opportunities, annual updates, and annual sitespecific data reports to assess program successes.
