Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs

The United States does not have enough mental health providers to address the demand. Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs are helping to fill this gap.

These programs — commonly referred to as “Access Programs” — are population-based programs at the international, national, state, and local levels helping address the demand in maternal mental health (MMH) care by educating frontline providers, such as obstetricians, family physicians, pediatricians, and psychiatrists, to treat MMH conditions.

Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs provide four key services to increase the capacity of frontline healthcare providers to address MMH conditions, thereby leveraging scarce psychiatric resources and increasing access to timely and evidence-based care.

Key Services Provided by Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs

EDUCATION

to frontline providers to help them screen for and treat MMH conditions.

CONSULTATION

with psychiatrists for more complex cases.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

to help frontline providers and practices implement screening and treatment protocols.

RESOURCES AND REFERRALS

for local supports such as therapists and support groups.

Who Coordinates These Programs

Lifeline for Moms provides coordination and programmatic guidance among the organizations implementing perinatal psychiatric access lines, including:

  • Peer learning and resource sharing.

  • Training and workforce development.

  • Nurturing relationships to promote continuing support for, and innovation and expansion of, existing and future programs.

  • Quality improvement, program evaluation, and equity advancement.

Lifeline for Moms also leads research into effective comparison of programs, provides toolkits and educational materials, and offers an online e-module on addressing perinatal mental health in the obstetric setting: umassmed.edu/lifeline4moms.

Current Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs as of March 2025

State-Based Programs

Learn More with the Resources Below

  • MMHLA Perinatal Psychiatry Access Program Fact Sheet

    DOWNLOAD

  • Promoting The Health of Parents & Children

    DOWNLOAD

These programs are made possible by federal grants, which were won through our policy advocacy.

Federal grants are awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Learn more.

Seven states received federal grants for 2018-2022

  1. Florida

  2. Kansas

  3. Louisiana

  4. Montana

  5. North Carolina

  6. Rhode Island

  7. Vermont

Twelve states were awarded federal grants in 2023

  1. California

  2. Colorado

  3. Kansas

  4. Kentucky

  5. Louisiana

  6. Missouri

  7. Mississippi

  8. Montana

  9. North Carolina

  10. Tennessee

  11. Texas

  12. West Virginia

*Vermont was added in 2024