Increasing provider capacity to identify, refer, and treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) is a key component of our work. This starts with offering access to high-quality, evidence-based continuing education and training across provider types and specialties.
Local, regional and national training opportunities are available to support you.
Annual Whatcom County Trainings
March 19, 2025 . Our annual trainings form the backbone of our efforts to build community capacity.
This training is free and open to clinical and non-clinical professionals working with families in the childbearing years in Whatcom County. Content will include best practices for identifying substance use disorders(SUDs) and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
- Overview of SUD in the Perinatal Period
- Perinatal Harm Reduction
- Parent Panel
- Screening and Therapeutic Conversations around PMADs and SUDs
- Best practices in referral and family support
Through this training you will learn to:
- Build strong therapeutic relationships with perinatal individuals, fostering trust, empathy, and open communication.
- Identify perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and substance use disorders in pregnant and postpartum individuals.
- Effectively refer and provide support that addresses the complex needs of perinatal individuals with substance use disorders, incorporating evidence-based and best practices and harm reduction strategies.
- Collaborate effectively with other healthcare providers, social service agencies, and community organizations to coordinate care for perinatal individuals with substance use disorders.
Register here: https://perinatalsupport.org/event/whatcom_march2025/. This training has been developed in collaboration with Perinatal Support Washington and with grant funding from the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). 6 Contact Hours approved for RNs.
10-Month Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Training & Case Consultation
Annually, starting each September. In partnership with Perinatal Support Washington and local specialist Michelle Anderson LMCH, PMH-C, this 10-month training allows participants to take a deeper look at PMADs, learning advanced clinical skills each session. Instruction is followed by time for case consultation. This training is intended for mental health practitioners.
Perinatal Mental Health Training for Non-Clinical Providers in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties
Ongoing. Email training@perinatalsupport.org to learn more. This drop-in monthly consultation is lead by local experienced perinatal mental health clinician Michelle Anderson, LMHC, PMH-C. Sessions provide an opportunity to discuss cases, review best practices for screening, discuss community resources, and network. Ideal for any professional working with childbearing people- home visitors, case managers, WIC, public health, lactation specialists, midwives, doulas, early childhood providers, and more!
On-Demand Trainings: Coming Soon!
Local specialists bring you pertinent content to help your practice and build a strong community standard of care in Whatcom County.
Onsite support for your practice
Would you like support building evidence-based practices in your clinical setting? Our Task Force would love to help you! Whether you need advise on screening practices, workflow issues, or coordinating referral pathways, our clinical and training team can lend a hand.
Contact Us to talk more about options for collaboration.
Other trusted sources for basic and advanced perinatal mental health training
PERINATAL SUPPORT WASHINGTON
Definitive resource on PMADs in Washington state, source of high quality, evidence-based, live and recorded webinars often featuring local specialists.
20/20 MOM
Annual Maternal Mental Health Forum and frequent webinars covering topics from governmental policy and advocacy, maternal suicide, racial equity in maternal mental health, and so much more!
POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL
Certificate course and training pathway, frontline provider training, Advisory Council webinar series, and a free Maternal Mental Health Webinar.
MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH NOW
Basic and advanced online training courses, webinar series, and practice toolkits for providers such as Queer & Trans Perinatal Mental Health.
MASSACHUSETTS CHILD PSYCHIATRY ACCESS PROGRAM (MCPAP) FOR MOMS
Simple and evidence-based clinical practice toolkits designed for providers including Obstetric, Pediatric, and Substance Use Providers.