The Pennsylvania Perinatal Partnership (PPP), a coalition of maternal and child health care professionals, is launching a 15-month initiative on pregnancy and depression.
"Depression is the number one complication of pregnancy," declared Joanne D. Craig, co-chair, Pennsylvania Perinatal Partnership. "Pennsylvania will harness the good ideas and tremendous resources of states around the nation to create a depression and pregnancy information network. This is going to change the lives of millions of women and their families," Craig added.
The funding for this effort is a public-private venture with support from the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. "This clearinghouse will link people with model programs with those who are searching for program ideas. It will highlight the struggles and successes that other states have experienced when launching their programs to combat perinatal depression," said Joe Pyle, President of the Scattergood Foundation.
Secretary of Public Welfare B. Estelle Richman, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare said, "We believe that Pennsylvania can lead the nation in promoting improved behavioral health programs for pregnant women and their families. We are pleased to be part of this partnership."
Under the auspices of this information network, professionals, consumers, elected officials and advocates will share information about model programs, successful legislative initiatives and research findings. The project will culminate in nationwide summit on pregnancy and depression.
The Pennsylvania Perinatal Partnership (PPP) is the first statewide group of its kind in the nation. Created in 2002, the Partnership brings together maternal and child health organizations from across Pennsylvania. PPP members work jointly on such issues as improving managed care services for pregnant women, creating a best practices model for the early detection and prevention of perinatal depression, and advocacy for improved state funding of pre-natal care programs. There are 17 member organizations of the PPP. The Family Planning Council serves as the fiscal and administrative agent for the PPP.
