As we close out the year, many families move through a mix of celebration, strain, and transition. This season often brings heightened pressures around economic stress and mental health, and the family support workforce is right there in the middle of it. Your steady presence matters, and this month’s News Brief lifts up tools and insights designed to meet that reality.
As you can see, we are moving our Family Support News Brief to a fully digital format. We hope that this new format is easier to read, share, and enjoy. Please let us know what you think!
As always, we welcome your questions, reflections, and partnership as we step into the new year together.
Wishing you a season of steadiness and connection, in whatever ways are meaningful to you and the families you serve.
Warmly,
Your family support partners at Center for Schools and Communities
Maternal Mental Health
What happens when a mother’s emotional well-being is overlooked during one of the most vulnerable times in her life? Maternal mental health, also known as perinatal health, includes a mother’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being during pregnancy and after childbirth. When left unaddressed, maternal mental health can affect not only the mother’s health but also the development and well-being of her child and family. Home visitors and family support professionals are essential in promoting maternal mental health and assisting mothers in navigating the obstacles they often encounter when trying to access mental health services and resources.
Maternal mental health is often challenged by hormonal changes, stress, lack of support, and the demands of caring for a newborn, which can contribute to conditions such as postpartum depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and more. Research shows that one in five mothers are impacted by maternal mental health conditions, and that maternal mental health challenges are a leading cause of maternal deaths1. Maternal mental health conditions can affect all mothers, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. However, the rate is significantly higher in women of color due to racial disparities, higher stress levels, economic inequities and more. Although maternal mental health is treatable, many mothers do not seek treatment.
Untreated maternal mental health issues can have serious consequences. Despite the importance of receiving mental health services during the perinatal period, many women face significant barriers to accessing mental health support. These challenges are often rooted in stigma surrounding mental illness, economic hardships, lack of awareness of services, and systemic issues such as racism and sexism. Additional challenges include experiences of domestic violence, limited awareness of mental health symptoms, insufficient social support, and fears such as losing custody of their children. Furthermore, negative or dismissive attitudes from some healthcare professionals can further discourage women from seeking the help they need. Addressing these complex and overlapping barriers is essential for improving outcomes for mothers, children, and families.
Home visitors and family support professionals play a vital role in addressing these challenges. Home visits can help alleviate a mother's sense of isolation and build her confidence and coping skills. Family support professionals can build trusting relationships with families and identify signs of early distress, and offer early screenings, emotional support, and connections to vital resources. Their involvement can make a significant difference in ensuring mothers receive the help they need for themselves and their families.
Home visitors and family support professionals play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. Through home visits, they can help reduce a mother’s feelings of isolation while strengthening her confidence and coping skills. By building trusting relationships, these professionals are often the first to recognize signs of distress and can provide early screenings, emotional support, and connections to essential resources. Their involvement is key to ensuring that mothers receive the help and care they need for themselves and their families.
For those working directly with pregnant and postpartum individuals, one resource worth keeping front-of-mind is the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA / 1-833-852-6262). The Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support from trained counselors, with services available in English, Spanish, and more than 60 additional languages.
Maternal mental health is not just about caring for mothers; it’s about nurturing the well-being of entire families and communities. Family support professionals help mothers feel heard, valued, and supported during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. Supporting maternal mental health strengthens families today and helps build healthier, more resilient generations for the future.
Supporting Children and Teens Who Experienced Loss During the Holiday Season: As the holiday season approaches, many families find themselves balancing celebration with grief and loss. The “Supporting Children and Teens Who Experienced Loss During This Holiday Season” fact sheet from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers practical guidance for caregivers on talking with young people about their emotions, adjusting traditions, and building new rituals that honor loved ones who are absent. It’s a helpful tool for supporting children’s emotional well-being in a time that can bring both joy and pain.
Families can enjoy a safe and fun winter season by taking a few simple precautions. As a general guideline, infants should wear one more layer of clothing than adults.
For example, if you are wearing a coat, your baby will need a coat and a blanket. Make sure your home has a working carbon monoxide detector on every level. Keep your baby’s crib free of stuffed animals and extra blankets to reduce the risk of suffocation.
When traveling, remember that bulky clothing or winter coats can prevent a secure fit in a car seat. Remove coats and blankets before buckling your child in, and instead, drape a blanket or coat over the car seat straps for warmth. Children under 10 years of age should always be closely supervised when playing outside. Encourage younger kids to take frequent breaks indoors for a warm drink and choose play areas that have a nearby shelter to warm up.
Finally, keep an emergency kit in your car stocked with blankets, a flashlight, snacks, and water whenever you are on the road this winter. Following easy safety steps now can ensure your family stays safe during the winter months.
Caring for the Caregivers: Supporting Parents Mental Health
December 3 |10:00 AM
Infant Mental Health: What is Normal and What is Not February 4, 2026 | 10:00 AM
Safe Kids Corner
Winter Sports Safety Tips for Your Kids
Whether your kids are snowboarders, figures skaters, or just having fun in the snow, here are a few winter sports safety tips to keep them active, healthy, and safe.
Winter Sports Safety Tips
Use appropriate and properly fitted sports gear to prevent or reduce the severity of injuries. For winter sports, this gear may include shin guards, mouth guards, and especially helmets when they’re skiing, snowboarding or playing ice hockey. Based upon recommendations made by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), we recommend using either a skate style helmet approved to ASTM F1492 or a ski/snowboard helmet approved to either ASTM F2040 or EN1077. While we are unaware of any sledding specific helmets, any of these helmets or a CPSC bicycle helmet would be better than no helmet in many sledding accidents.
Encourage kids to drink plenty of water before, during and after play. Compared to adults, children are at an increased risk of dehydration—and yes, it can happen even in cold temperatures.
Wear warm clothing and use sunscreen. It’s also a good idea to have kids come indoors periodically to prevent hypothermia or frostbite –hot chocolate and marshmallows is a great way to lure them in.
