Scaling perinatal mental health care: Scientists assess home visiting programs in Midwest
Can reaching out to new mothers right at the outset of parenting set them on the right path? A new study published in BMC Health Services Research assesses home health visitation programs, which provide perinatal mental health services for mothers and families who might not otherwise have access to such resources.
Scientists evaluate home visiting programs across Iowa and Indiana to assess their effectiveness in providing perinatal mental health care to new mothers and families. The study, published in BMC Health Services Research, focuses on scaling the Mothers and Babies cognitive-behavioral intervention within these state programs. Perinatal depression and anxiety are serious complications of pregnancy and childbirth, disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations.
Home visiting programs (HVPs) are already reaching thousands of low-income and marginalized families annually and serve as a vital community health link. However, implementing evidence-based mental health interventions within HVPs presents various challenges due to differences in operations, staffing, and funding among programs.
Researchers from Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation and Indiana University School of Public Health—Bloomington conducted a community-engaged formative evaluation to adapt an implementation facilitation strategy. The evaluation involved mapping over 500 home programs across both states and surveying 72 of these programs.
The survey found that over 90% routinely screen for perinatal depression, highlighting the need for structured intervention tools. Interviews with participants revealed engagement barriers such as fear of judgment, scheduling logistics, and the importance of engaging broader social networks and family connections. The formative evaluation also identified key differences in state priorities: Indiana emphasized logistical challenges, while Iowa participants focused on communication systems, training infrastructure, and mental health consultations.
The researchers produced the IMPACT Implementation Support Package, structured around four core performance outcomes: professional development, integration into the implementation system, improved staff understanding of mental health, and building trust and rapport among clients and client groups. These findings underscore the importance of reaching out to mothers at the critical start of their parenting experience and provide important implications for health service delivery and policy.
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