Prevention Projects

MVBCN’s Post-Partum Depression project was started in 2000 and offers community-wide screening and mood management skills training classes for women at high risk. The model is based on work by Ricardo Munoz, Ph.D., in which he has shown the effectiveness of a Coping with Depression course in reducing the incidence of depression in a variety of at-risk populations.

Screening is done by maternal/infant, social service and medical services staff following extensive community education efforts. The screening tool is based on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, slightly modified for American use. Women are offered a series of cognitive-behavioral modules provided in groups, which have been particularly successful with Latinas. Currently classes are underway in Spanish in three counties and in English in two counties. Fidelity is addressed by use of a curriculum adapted from that developed by Dr. Munoz for low-income pregnant women. The outcomes measure is the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, which is administered as a pre-test and following the completion of each module. Outcomes over the last 6 years have consistently shown significant reductions in levels of depression among women participating in classes.