Whatcom Perinatal Mental Health Task Force

Our vision:

All families thrive during pregnancy and the transition to parenthood.

Our mission:

To support family well-being by collaboratively building a community standard of care for the prevention, screening, and treatment of perinatal health concerns in Whatcom County.

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What we do:

  • 1 We connect with parents, caregivers, and professionals to raise community awareness about the tender time of becoming a new parent, what perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are, and the need to normalize asking for help.
  • 2 We support a robust, community-based peer support system for new families that is accessible and culturally relevant.
  • 3 We increase community capacity to identify, refer, and treat families experiencing PMADs by offering educational opportunities for a range of providers.
  • 4 We maintain a current resource list of PMADs support in Whatcom County.
  • 5 We work in collaboration with state and local organizations and community groups to advance actions supporting families and perinatal mental health.

A collaborative community standard of care that works together to support all families.

Together, our collective vision is a community where all Whatcom families have the opportunity to build strong connections, feel empowered, and experience the possibility of love in their relationships.

Our history:

Founded in 2017 by a small group of parents and professionals, the Whatcom Perinatal Mental Health Task Force focuses on supporting new parents and their families in that vulnerable transition from pregnancy to parenting. In 2020, the Whatcom Family & Community Network (WFCN) offered fiscal sponsorship. This partnership provides foundational support for the growing group of parents and professionals who have been steadily working together to build community capacity to improve pregnancy and postpartum well-being.

Our leadership team:

Our work is guided by a leadership team who brings a range of lived and professional experiences related to perinatal mental health. Together, they share a passion for supporting new parents and empowering them to support each other. The leadership team develops strategic goals for the Task Force, plans and completes the projects to achieve those goals, and identifies funding opportunities to support the work.

Allison Williams

Allison Williams

LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER

Samantha Konikoff

Samantha Konikoff

Leadership team member

Michelle Anderson

Michelle Anderson

Leadership team member

Holly Martinsen

Holly Martinsen

Leadership team member

Melissa Burden

Melissa Burden

Leadership team member

Erin Schuldt

Erin Schuldt

Leadership team member

Ready to get involved? Join one of our work groups (held every 3 months). All are welcome.

Come build a community with other parents and professionals. Understand the emerging problems in perinatal mental health. 

Our meetings are held every 3 months on the 3rd Thursday of January, April, July and October each year. We meet from 12 - 1:30pm PST on zoom. All are welcome!

Contact us to join our email list and receive updates on meetings and other events.

JOIN US ON ZOOM