✨A September to Remember✨
AZ Doula Care Policy Changes, Board Recruitment & Event FOMO
Parents are Not Immune: September is Suicide Prevention Month
Maternal suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality and is estimated to account for 20% of maternal deaths during the perinatal period. Download this “virtual zoom meeting background” to raise awareness and show your support! Learn More
🏜️ We Need Board Members like YOU!
Do you get excited about transforming AZ's perinatal mental health desert into a thriving oasis of informed, equitable, and accessible providers? So do we! PSI Arizona remains dedicated to building a board which represents Arizona’s full diversity (e.g. geography, race, ethnicity, gender, profession, parenting configurations, etc).
2025 holds so much opportunity and potential for change. Be a part, join the board!
Board Application deadline 11:59PM MST (AZ) on Sunday, September 15th, 2024.
📣Shape AZ Doula & Group Prenatal Care, Comment NOW!
Significant doula services and group prenatal care policy updates are being made to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) policy AMPM 410, Maternity Care Services. (Find the major changes on pages 9 & 10.) Member of the public are welcome to comment on ANY part of the policy. (Step-by-step instructions).
Comment today and shape AZ maternal care!
Public comment closes: Friday, October 4th, 2024 at 5 p PST.
🏆 PMH-Cs Now Searchable in Another Database!
Please help us celebrate this ENORMOUS win: Arizona’s UnitedHealthcare Community Plan (UHCCP) now joins our state medicare agency (AHCCCS) in officially recognizing the Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) credential in their provider database!
Search “perinatal mental health” in the UHCCP Behavioral Health "Find Care" webpage and get a list of providers near you with this “Area of Expertise” (AOE)! (Please note the PMH-C AOE is not yet searchable Commercial UHC insurance, but the goal is to eventually make it more widely available!)
These are crucial first steps towards improved accessibility to informed perinatal mental healthcare for some of our most disproportionately affected Arizona families!
🌵AZ’s Perinatal Mental Healthcare Network Grows MORE
Welcome to our FOURTEEN newest Arizona Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) specialists, leveling out at a whopping 177 AZ PMH-Cs! Interested in getting certified? We still have exam scholarships, prioritizing providers of color, providers who serve less populous counties, AHCCCS in-network providers.
🎓 Scholarship Update: A New Record!!
In August, we awarded an additional 47 training and 6 exam scholarships for a 2024 YTD total of 36 exam scholarships and 184 training scholarships (220 total scholarships in 2024 YTD)!! This nearly matches our 2023 scholarship total (221 scholarships) and we still have one remaining 2024 scholarship deadline: Oct 12th!
🎉 Our Volunteer Wish List
Want to do more to support parents, but not sure how? Let’s connect. We need passionate volunteers like YOU, so parents feel more supported and resourced! Our current top needs include:
Event tabling to get the word out (babies in arms welcome)
Facebook group moderator
Website updates
Fundraising and so many more!!!
💻 50+ Free Online Support Groups
If you haven’t looked lately, you’ll likely be shocked 😳 that PSI offers over 50 FREE, virtual support groups / encuentros de apoyo (in English and Spanish).
🗓️ Upcoming Events: You Don’t Want to Miss These!
✨ Equity & Access Group August Luncheon
Thursday, Sept 26, 12 - 1p AZ | Virtual
Join us for a special luncheon featuring Hispanic Heritage Month, where we will explore the experiences of Migrant Mothers through a panel discussion. We will offer 2 book raffles this month! Join us as Migrant Mothers share their stories.
Advanced registration is required: REGISTER TODAY
✨ First Ever Arizona PMH-C Meetup
Friday, Sept 13, 12 - 1p | Virtual
The theme of this inaugural PMH-C meetup is "Building Connections.” Our hope is these quarterly meet ups will begin to facilitate a strong AZ PMH-C community that supports and celebrates aspiring, new and current PMH-Cs! Let’s build community, expand our trusted referral sources and grow together!
Advanced registration is required: REGISTER HERE
✨Arizona Perinatal Psychiatric Access Line | Grand Rounds
Wednesday, Sept 20, 12 -1p | virtual
Dr. Kalia will be discussing perimenopause. Review the learning objectives and CME information here: Learn More
📝 The Arizona Department of Health conducts a needs assessment every five years to identify new priorities for future health programming in our state. The anonymous survey is available in English and Spanish and takes 15-20 minutes to complete. ALL Arizona residents are welcome to provide their input and perspective by Dec 31!
🗣️Do You Have a Perinatal Mental Health Job to Fill?
Share your organization’s PMH job posting which gets over 1,500 views. Jobs will be included in our monthly eNews: 1 month for $30. Contact: psi.arizona1@gmail.com
With Gratitude,
Elizabeth Wood, Arizona Chapter Chair
Postpartum Support International
