MOMS Partnership 2026

MOMS 20 Partnership 26 ®

Advancing maternal mental health, unlocking mobility

ELEVATE.YALE.EDU MOMS Partnership is based in Yale Child Study Center within Yale School of Medicine.

MOMS Partnership®: Meeting Mothers Where They Are

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, MOMS meets mothers where they are — bringing mental health support directly into the spaces where mothers feel most comfortable — in their

“I have learned a lot while in the class. The

neighborhoods, community health centers, or other places they

instructors were

gather and live, as well as through convenient virtual classes.

very informative,

Pairing evidence-based programming with opportunities to build practical

creative, encouraging,

skills, MOMS makes mental health care

understanding

accessible, culturally responsive, and

and really met

immediately relevant to daily life for

each person

women who are pregnant and/or

where there

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.

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.

1000+ mothers have participated in MOMS programming 11 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.

93% of mothers reported

6.2 out of 8 classes

being “Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied” with the MOMS Stress Management Course.

attended on average, demonstrating strong engagement.

86%* of mothers use the skills they learn in MOMS classes “Often” or “Every Day.”

Proven Impact on Mental Health and Well-being 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: Improvements in Mental Health: Statistically significant reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, and in perceived stress after completing MOMS programming, sustained at 3month follow-up.

Improvements in Social Support: Statistically significant increases in perceived social support after completing MOMS programming, sustained at 3-month assessment.

*Calculated using rounded average scores.

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-based programs that build skills to strengthen mental health, relationships, parenting, and work success.

Social connection fostered through group classes where mothers learn from and support one another Accessible classes in community spaces or live online platforms Strategies to address barriers to mental health care for mothers Co-delivery by a clinician and Community Mental Health Ambassador blending professional expertise with lived experience Culturally responsive design that is relevant and relatable, and goes beyond linguistic translation Data to guide continuous improvement to 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.

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.

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.

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.”

"I use what I learned in my everyday life, during my work and also when I was looking to be employed."

“Loved the material. Loved learning new coping skills for managing stress to become a better parent.”

“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.”

"I wish we had more sessions!

The group support was invaluable, and I use the skills every day."

“The instructors made the space feel safe and comfortable enough to be open. The lessons were easy to follow and apply.”

"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."

"Very good program for all parents who want to do better for their kids—to learn better ways to parent them."

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. Technical assistance 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. Program evaluation to assess impact, inform process, and support program sustainability 4. Cultural and population-specific adaptations 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

Program Launch

Program Sustainment

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.

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.

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.

Ready to Join the MOMS Movement?

Let’s Build Something That Lasts.

Investing in maternal mental health is a powerful lever for generational change.

By becoming a MOMS site, you join a national network of changemakers, practitioners, researchers, community leaders and policymakers dedicated to meaningful impact at the intersection where maternal mental health meets economic mobility. Together, we can create real, lasting change—for mothers, children, and the communities we share.

To learn more, visit our website: elevate.yale.edu Or email us: elevate@yale.edu

MOMS Partnership & Elevate Policy Lab Yale Child Study Center 350 George St., 3rd Floor New Haven, CT 06511

“This was one of the best programs I’ve been in. The energy, the safe space, and the women who ran the group helped me in so many ways mentally. It should be offered everywhere.”

— MOMS Participant

The Elevate Policy Lab, based in Yale School of Medicine’s Child Study Center, develops, tests and scales strategies to support the mental health needs of overburdened, under resourced mothers.