The MOMs Clinic
The MOMs (Making Optimal Mental health care) Clinic is designed to help families during life transitions with a specific focus during the perinatal period.
Mission
The overarching goal is to improve the mental well-being of pregnant women and birthing persons, parents, and their families across pregnancy, adverse pregnancy events, and the first two years postpartum.
We seek to offer culturally-affirming mental health care to women, birth persons, and their families during pregnancy, during adverse pregnancy events, and during the first two years postpartum for free through a coordinated effort from clinics providing women’s and obstetric health care and psychological services.
We offer all services to all birthing persons, parents and families in need.
History
The MOM project emerged from data showing one in three African American women at SLUCare and affiliated clinics screened positive for depression at their initial prenatal health care visit, but lacked mental health referral and resources. We began services for Black maternal mental health and have continued to expand services for couples and families.
Services
We offer a series of services via in-person and telehealth (over zoom) to improve access to mental health care with devices available to those without access to the technology to engage in telehealth mental health care services:
- Individual Counseling
- We currently offer free individual counseling (availability pending) to moms and birthing parents experiencing perinatal mood disorders and stress during pregnancy and postpartum.
- Group Counseling
- We currently offer free group counseling to moms and birthing parents experiencing perinatal mood disorders and stress during pregnancy and postpartum. Group counseling is offered at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Call the Center for Counseling and Family Therapy at 314-977-2505 to register.
- Couples Counseling
- We currently offer free couples counseling (availability pending) to couples experiencing stress related to family life transitions including pregnancy, postpartum, and adverse pregnancy events.
- Family Counseling
- We currently offer free family counseling (availability pending) to couples experiencing stress related to family life transitions including pregnancy, postpartum, and adverse pregnancy events.
- Parenting Classes
- We offer a series of parenting classes to discuss infant development, infant/parent attachment, and infant/parent bonding.
Diapers and Menstrual Products
Thanks to the , we can now give MOMs clients, diapers and period products.
Resources
- MOM project is designed to remove roadblocks that contribute to health disparities. We recognize barriers limit accessing mental health care.
- To reduce barriers (e.g., time, transportation), we will offer telehealth services. Individuals can engage in services easily from the comfort of their home.
- For those wanting to use telehealth services, but without access to technology including internet and devices to engage in telehealth services (e.g., smartphones, computers, tablets), individuals can check out tablets and hotspots using through our technology library to participate in counseling conveniently.
- Need immediate help? This national hotline is available in English and Spanish. It
is free, confidential, and available for pregnant or new parents 24 hours a day/7
days a week.
- Try the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Call or text 1-833-9-HELPMOMS (1-833-943-5746).
Program Director
Dixie Meyer, Ph.D.
MOMs program director
Dixie Meyer has extensive clinical experiences offering counseling services to pregnant women and birthing persons during pregnancy and postpartum with a specific focus on African American women and families and low-income women, birthing persons and families. She is an active researcher examining chronic stress and health outcomes with a specific focus on how interpersonal relationships can be used to counteract stress to improve mental well-being.
Clinical Team
Our clinical team includes SLU doctoral and masters students from psychology, social work, couples and family therapy, and the medical family therapy programs.