E. Louis Feldman Fund Supports Training of Perinatal Therapists at AHN to Support Maternal and Infant Mental Health

The E. Louis Feldman Fund has awarded Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Women’s Behavioral Health (WBH), part of the AHN Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute, grant funding to expand training and resources at West Penn Hospital for interventions that support perinatal mental health for mom and infant mental health for baby.

According to one recent study, maternal postpartum depression (PPD) and mother-infant relationship dysfunction have reciprocal effects on each other and thus an integrated approach that addresses both problems simultaneously may lead to improved outcomes.

Made possible through this grant funding, AHN’s Women’s Behavioral Health team will cross-train staff on evidenced-based practices and best-in-class models of care that continue to broaden access and availability of services to unique two-part modalities not commonly offered in the traditional healthcare setting where mother and baby are often viewed as separate patients.

The program includes Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers (PCITT), an early intervention program where providers coach parents during real-time interaction with therapeutic parenting practices proven to decrease problematic behaviors, improve children's language, and encourage children to follow directions. Additionally, trained staff will work with parents and caregivers to help them understand and read their child’s emotional needs, support their child’s ability to manage emotions, enhance their child’s self-esteem and develop secure parent/child interaction.

West Penn Hospital’s Alexis Joy D’Achille Center for Perinatal Mental Health is a 7,300-square-foot facility offering rooms for individual therapy as well as space for an intensive outpatient program (IOP). Offered three-hours-daily, three-days-a week, the goal of the IOP program is to strengthen the bond between mother and baby and increase maternal self-confidence. The Center features a complete kitchen where moms can learn how to cook healthy meals for themselves and their families. WBH focuses on bonding and stress relief techniques such as: infant massage, baby wearing, yoga, meditation, and art therapy. In addition to intensive outpatient treatment, patients have access to weekly group therapy, individual therapy, medication management.

“The generous funding from the E. Louis Feldman Fund will enable AHN to expand access to services supporting the mother-infant relationship,” said Rebecca Brent, PsyD, Program Director, AHN Women’s Behavioral Health. “Increased training builds on our existing programming to provide improvement in overall health outcomes for a greater number of moms and children.”

“We are grateful for the E. Louis Feldman Fund’s generosity that gives AHN Women’s Behavioral Health the opportunity to increase access to critical services that truly help strengthen families,” said Mitch Beckman, Chief Development Officer, AHN and Highmark Health.

For more information on the AHN Women’s Behavioral Health Institute, visit their website at https://www.ahn.org/services/womens-health/behavioral-health/perinatal-depression-symptoms.html.