Greetings Friends,
As the season transitions to cooler weather and school bells ring us back to attention, we take the time to both reflect and look forward with great anticipation! There is tremendous excitement at MotherWoman as we welcome to our team: Sierra Simmons, Development Coordinator, Aundrea Paulk, Administrative Coordinator, and Shelly Smith, Program Assistant. In addition to these brilliant new team members, we also honor Kristel Applebee's promotion to Program Manager and Trish Bonica's transition to MotherWoman's Board President. We honor the work of and say a fond farewell to former Board President, Joanne Sunshower, Development and Marketing Associate, Nadya Tkachenko and Administrative Assistant, Jayke Bouche. Their remarkable leadership, dedication and contributions have certainly made a lasting impact on the MotherWoman community! We are very proud to announce that this fall MotherWoman will be partnering with six communities across MA in our Community-based Perinatal Support Model. As MotherWoman expands across the Commonwealth, we are inspired to be working with our fabulous, capable team towards sustained growth, and there is room for you, too! Check out ways to deepen your already significant support. Consider: joining a committee, exploring ways to collaborate as a community partner, or participating in this year's MotherWoman Group Facilitator Training�. In addition, consider maximizing your gift by donating in-kind, giving through your local United Way or selecting MotherWoman when shopping on Amazon.com.
We are all deeply engaged in this critical work of supporting moms, families and our next generation together. Thanks for the many ways you continue to support MotherWoman throughout our evolution!
Warmly,
Shannon M. Koehn Executive Director
    
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PROMOTING THE RESILIENCE AND LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN
Join us for the popular and dynamic
MotherWoman Group Facilitator Training�
An Innovative Approach to Leading Successful Support Groups
October 23-25th at Springfield College
Seats still available-- REGISTER NOW!
The MotherWoman Group Model�, based on SEE (Safety, Education and Empowerment), creates group environments of mutual respect where women find their inherent strength and voice, connect authentically with other women, break down isolation and gain much-need perspective and validation.
The MotherWoman Group Model� is replicable in a variety of settings and with diverse populations. This model is easily adapted to include program-specific curricula and is especially effective in partnership with MotherWoman's Community-based Perinatal Support Model� (CPSM).
MotherWoman Facilitator Training Offers:
+ Exploration of cultural messages about motherhood
+ Skill building in group facilitation and leadership
+ Utilization of didactic and experiential learning models + Opportunities for practicum in small and large groups throughout training
+ Invitation to share lived experience in practicum groups
+ A deeper understanding of the power of support groups
20.0 Social Work CEUs are offered as part of the training.
"This training not only gave me the skills necessary to run a group right away, it gave me a deeper understanding about the social and cultural issues that impact women and how I, as a support group facilitator, can help women overcome them. It's not just about helping women to survive, it's about helping women to value themselves enough that they can thrive!"
-Aida Perez, Children's Trust Fund Parent Advocate National Awardee
CLICK HERE to join us for upcoming professional trainings and webinars this fall.
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The Final Countdown: 55 Days Until Election--- MotherWoman continues to Fight for Earned Paid Sick Time
POLICY AND ADVOCACY
MotherWoman is one of more than 100 organizations across MA who joined together to ensure that the minimum wage is increased and every worker in MA has earned sick time.
A total of 285,000 signatures were collected in a 10-week grassroots effort made possible with the support and leadership of thousands of unpaid volunteers across the Commonwealth. MotherWoman was active on the ground collecting these signatures and bringing awareness to the issue of minimum wage.
Now, as the Commonwealth moves forward with the Earned Paid Sick Time Ballot Initiative this November, MotherWoman is once again advocating for an important bill for workers. Currently, one million workers in Massachusetts are unable to earn paid sick time at their jobs, forcing them to risk their financial stability to tend to an illness, or go to work sick in order to keep their job. The majority of these positions are occupied by women and often these women are the primary breadwinners in their families. MotherWoman has taken great strides in addressing the multifaceted issues that impact mothers and families and to ensure that their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed.
MotherWoman, in conjunction with Raise Up MA, held a Weekend of Action on Earned Paid Sick Time in August to knock on doors, register voters, and most importantly, collect pledge cards to vote "yes" on the Earned Paid Sick Time Bill -- Question 4.
To learn more about how you can get involved, go to Raise Up MA!
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 MotherWoman Brings the Community-based Perinatal Support Model across MA BUILDING COMMUNITY SAFETY NETS
MotherWoman is proud to announce that we are bringing the Community-based Perinatal Support Model (CPSM) across Massachusetts. The CPSM works with multidisciplinary providers to create community safety nets for mothers at risk for perinatal emotional complications (feelings and behaviors that cause mothers distress and interfere with their functioning during pregnancy and the postpartum period; can include: depression, anxiety and other symptoms across a spectrum of severity).
The goal of the CPSM is to provide communities with resources and training to create community coalitions which in turn will expand professional trainings for providers, identify and broaden community resources, and ultimately create a system of care for mothers when they need it the most.
With financial support from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) for Moms, MotherWoman is partnering with communities in Brockton, Cape Cod, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester to implement these essential support networks. Additionally, these communities are receiving MotherWoman Group Facilitator Training to provide MotherWoman Support Groups for pregnant and postpartum moms in crisis.
Want to bring CPSM to a community near you or participate in a local Coalition Task Force? Contact us at [email protected].
"The announcement from MotherWoman of their six awards for the Community-based Perinatal Support Model has demonstrated their commitment to the residents and families of Massachusetts. South Bay Mental Health is pleased to be part of this clinical initiative and award recipient for the Brockton area. We understand the importance of maternal depression on mother-infant interactions, parenting practices, and the long term consequences associated with it. We are hopeful the CPSM can bring us closer to making sure all mothers receive the care and treatment they need and we will have a long term positive impact on families within Massachusetts,"
-Michael L. Pelletier, President and Chief Operating Officer, South Bay Mental Health Center, Brockton.
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Baystate Health Diversity & Inclusion Conference
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
MotherWoman is proud to be a Supporting Organization for this year's conference.
MotherWoman members and friends are being offered a 10% discount on registration. Please use the following discount code when registering electronically: MotherWoman Register Here
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Whose Story is it Anyway?
"Last month, I appeared on a national radio news show to talk about my experience with postpartum depression and anxiety. During the lengthy pre-interview, the producer asked me if there was any part of my story that I would not be comfortable sharing on the air...."
-Lynne McIntire
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New Ways to Support MotherWoman
- Shop online at Amazon Smile using the MotherWoman link, and a percentage of your purchase will go to MotherWoman!
- Find out if your workplace has a United Way campaign and designate a (pre-tax) portion of your paycheck to MotherWoman
- Do you work for UMass? Designate a portion of your paycheck to MotherWoman through the UMass Amherst Community Campaign (UMACC)
- Do you work for the state of Massachusetts? Designate a portion of your paycheck to MotherWoman through the Commonwealth of Mass Employees Charitable Campaign (COMECC)
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Join Our Mailing List!
Mission of MotherWoman
Info Tour
Learn about our programs, meet our staff, be inspired
Interested in hosting a MoM at your home or office? Contact us!
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Thanks to the generosity of these sponsors, every dollar raised at our Mothers' Day Breakfast went directly to our programs:
The Mother of All Mothers
Grand Mama
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