PSI WISHES YOU
A HAPPY AND HEALTHY MOTHER'S DAY
 PSI's first Blog Hop
spreads the word:
*Speak Up When You're Down*
Join us this May for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month and explore the 2013 theme:
"Maternal Mental Health: Recovery and Coping Skills"
In 2011, PSI declared May as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month and the annual observance is now being recognized locally in many communities and regions. We thank you for helping to further awareness to the public on the importance of maternal mental health. We are grateful to Mary Jo Codey and the state of New Jersey for "Speak Up When You're Down."
This year, PSI is hosting a Blog Hop as part of our month's activities. We invite you to share your stories as a way to provide hope and healing. With blog hubs from PSI members Kathy Morelli and Christina Hibbert, we have linked across the web with stories of awareness and recovery. If you blog, come join us! Read here for more information about the blog hop, and check out the 24 wonderful contributions that have been shared with us so far!
Leslie Lowell Stoutenburg, RNC, MS, PSI President
Wendy N. Davis, PhD, PSI Executive Director
Mother's Oasis: Center for Emotional Wellness
 This month, we feature the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition's Mother's Oasis: Center for Emotional Wellness, a unique women's support center in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Special thanks to PSI Volunteer Carole Sheehan for letting us know about this innovative program!
Mother's Oasis is proof of the 'build it and they will come' concept. It provides free services for any pregnant or postpartum woman in the motherhood transition. Since opening its doors in August 2011, Mother's Oasis has touched more lives than hoped for:
"... One memorable mom did not want to tell us her name or fill in any papers, and that was fine with us. It is all voluntary on the mom’s part, and anything we can do to support her ease at coming for any intervention is a priority. Months after attending the group for Spanish-speaking women, this undocumented mother offered to be interviewed for a story in a local bilingual newspaper on the topic of postpartum depression. She not only gave her name but educated thousands of other moms like herself who might not have taken that giant, risky step to get help. ..."
Read more about Mother's Oasis and the special place it has in the community for not only mother support but also awareness and advocacy.
PSI NEEDS YOU!
1. Treasurer-Elect, Board of Directors
We need a Treasurer Elect on our board of directors. All qualified applicants are welcome to apply;. The term for our new treasurer starts August 2013, and we'd like the "Treasurer-elect" to start this Spring and work with current Treasurer Carin Ezal, PhD, to facilitate transition. The Treasurer works with the PSI Board, staff, bookkeeper, and accounting firm to coordinate PSI financial records and budget, reports, and returns. Duties include: working with Board to create annual budget; distributing monthly summary of activity and budget to the Board; coordinating with PSI office admin staff to maintain financial recording; reviewing online banking activity, statements and pay invoices; transferring PayPal deposits and creating summaries; reviewing time-cards for our one employee; and using QuickBooks to create invoices and review transactions for proper classification of revenue and expenses.
2. Spanish Warmline Volunteers
PSI provides support to Spanish speaking families and providers through the PSI Spanish Warmline at 1-800-944-4PPD. An average of 20 callers per week are returned by our dedicated PSI Spanish speaking volunteers via phone call or email. Each volunteer returns calls one day each week, and shares information, reassurance, and resources in Spanish for moms and families. We need more bilingual Spanish/English volunteers who would like to volunteer one day a week, or provide backup to the volunteer team. Volunteers return calls from their own location, and bilingual Volunteers receive free membership to PSI! If you can help, please contact our current PSI Spanish Warmline Coordinator Gladys Palomera at gladys_palomera@sbcglobal.net. Many thanks!
PSI Coordinators: Send Us Your News!
PSI would not exist without the dedication and caring of its support coordinators. We thank you for the volunteer work you do in your communities to provide social support, information, reassurance, and resources to mothers and their families. We invite you to send us your news of how you are reaching out to families in your area. Contact us at news@postpartum.net.
|
13 PSI Annual Conference with NAMI Minnesota
