About This Webinar:
Emerging research suggests that a significant number of new mothers are experiencing postpartum depression and associated risk/vulnerability factors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study found that one in three new mothers screened positive for postpartum depression, and one in five had major depressive symptoms (Postpartum Depression and Associated Risk Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2022).
This webinar focuses on strategies for supporting military families facing challenges in family functioning, new parent well-being, and maternal mental health. This presentation identifies unique vulnerability factors and strengths for military partners and spouses. Join this webinar as presenters discuss developing effective communication strategies, self-care techniques, and community resources to identify challenges and support military families.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:
- Recognize the challenges and strengths that military partners/spouses face (due to the nature of their and/or their partner’s service, deployment, and reintegration).
- Develop strategies to identify clients they are working with, including recognizing the importance of understanding military service/culture and the impact on the family unit.
- Identify effective communication and community resources for maintaining the mental health and well-being of military mothers
*This webinar is Part 1 of Supporting Maternal Mental Health and Well-being with experts from Zero to Three. Watch the archive recording of Part 2, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Military Life.
Presenters
Summer Jones is a Senior Writer and Training
She is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor, Policy. She is an experienced home visitor, supervising and managing a counseling program that provided in-home mental health services and parent education to mothers who are screened as at-risk for depression. She has also provided programmatic and technical support to states, territories, tribes, and communities implementing federally-funded grants and programs supporting early childhood development, mental health, well-being, and education.
Jennifer Novak is the Senior Writer/Training Specialist for Military Family Projects at ZERO TO THREE. She has a specialty focus on the needs of children and families impacted by trauma and applies a trauma-informed lens in creating these tools. She provides training and technical assistance to professionals and develops evidence-based resources designed to support military families with young children.
As a former military spouse for ten years, she brings personal experience and knowledge of the issues surrounding military and veteran families to her work. She holds a Master’s Degree from Florida State University in Social Work, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. She also holds an LMSW in the State of Maryland and provides part-time mental health counseling services to children and adults.
Continuing Education (CE) Credit
The following CE credits will be submitted for this session:
- Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists: Programming approval for 1.5 CE credits has been obtained for Social Work, LPCs, and LMFTs from the University of Texas at Austin, Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Check with your state licensing agency for reciprocity and/or credit approval if licensed for other professions or in one of the following states: CO, FL, HI, IA, KS, KY, MI, NY, ND, OH, OK. **Note: Eligibility for CE credit expires on September 7, 2025.
- Case Managers: Case Management Continuing Education Credits from the Commission for Case Manager Certification are no longer available for this webinar. However, please click the button above to complete an evaluation to give us your feedback.
- Certified Family Life Educators: This program has been approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) for 1.5 CE credits for CFLEs. **Note: Eligibility for CE credit expires on September 7, 2028.
- Board Certified Patient Advocates: This program has been submitted to The Patient Advocate Certification Board to provide CE credit to Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA). The course has been approved for 1.5 CE contact hours, of which 0.0 are in the area of Ethics. **Note: Eligibility for CE credit expires on September 7, 2025.
- Early Interventionists and Early Childhood Educators: This webinar offers 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits through the Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) at the University of Illinois through 12/31/2024.
- Illinois Early Care & Education Providers: This webinar is a Gateways to Opportunity Registry-approved Training for early care and education professionals in Illinois through 12/31/2024.
- OneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in documenting additional professional development activities.
Event Materials
Cover Image: Photo by RDNE Stock Project from Pexels
