Program Description
The Perinatal Behavior Health PEER to PEER Program (PEER) supports pregnant and postpartum women with improving their mental health wellness through the provision of peer support services conducted through BREATHE (Black Women Restoring Evolving Taking Accountability Teaching Each Other Healing While Elevating Everyday).

Funded Community Partner
Birthing Beautiful Communities

Priority Population
The overall goal of the Maternal Behavioral Health Peer Support Program is to support pregnant and postpartum women with improving their mental health wellness through the provision of peer support services. The Maternal Behavioral Health Peer Support program supports the larger effort to improve mental health wellness among Ohio’s most vulnerable population.

What is the problem we are working to address?
Research indicates that women experience a lack of consistent and accessible standard of care in the United States in part due to a scarcity of qualified and financially accessible mental health providers. One way to address provider shortages within the fields of maternal mental health and addiction, is through the use of certified PEER support specialists. This aligns with our goal to ensure mental wellbeing and decrease mortality among childbearing individuals within the state of Ohio.

In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births and was significantly higher than rates for White (14.5), Hispanic (12.4), and Asian (10.7) women.

In the state of Ohio in 2020, Black mothers and their infants account for 38% of births, but represent 69% of deaths (864 total infant deaths, 493 White infant deaths, & 362 black infant deaths).

In Cuyahoga County, 2023 data indicates 112 infant deaths. 63% of these were black infants.

1 in 5 mothers are impacted by mental health conditions
Maternal mental health (MMH) conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and birth, affecting 800,000 American families each year.

What are the solutions?
CCBH is partnering with Birthing Beautiful Communities to implement BREATHE programming. BREATHE (Black Women Restoring Evolving Taking Accountability Teaching Each Other Healing While Elevating Everyday) is a five-part series in which pregnant and postpartum individuals learn to identify and address depression, anxiety, panic, and the fears often faced by women of color. These professionally facilitated group sessions help pregnant and postpartum individuals deal with toxic stress through self-care activities such as journaling, relaxation techniques, and social support.

Our success has been our outreach and education, promoting the peer support program and providing services to birthing individuals who are pregnant and/or up to one year postpartum. Provide referrals as needed, using an evidence-based screening tool.  Have group sessions and train agency and/or other community partners and staff on maternal mental health, the importance of mental wellness during and following pregnancy, and the peer support services offered with culturally and linguistically appropriate resources and materials.