The Maternal Mental Health Walk™ to March for Moms® launched nationally in 2017 to raise funds and awareness for maternal mental health disorders, which include depression, multiple forms of anxiety and the more rare postpartum psychosis.
To bring the message of maternal mental health to child bearing age women and families, March for Moms®Maternal Mental Health Walks™ were held throughout the country at March of Dimes (MOD) walk locations, with the support of the March of Dimes national office.
We joined to heal together, laugh together, and make a difference together.
The 2017 walks are over, please sign-up for our e-news to keep informed of the 2018 March for Moms registration.
History In 2016, 2020 Mom, host of the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health (NCMMH), formed a walking team in our home town, Los Angeles. We did this to raise awareness at the MOD walk. We figured it was the perfect place to meet at-risk families and share information, all while getting some sunshine, exercise, and connecting with each other (things that keep our family healthy too!). With a local sister non-profit, Maternal Mental Health Now, we passed out blue dot balloons to families with young children. The balloons included informational palm-sized cards tied to them which could be removed and saved.
Why March of Dimes Walk Sites? Untreated depression and anxiety during pregnancy is a leading cause of preterm birth. In addition, women who delivery preterm and/or have a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at higher risk for MMH disorders.
Awareness Materials To raise awareness, teams have the opportunity to pass out stroller posters or balloons and palm-sized awareness cards and order MMH Walk t-shirts. Awareness materials will center around the blue dot, the international symbol of MMH awareness.
Who Should Attend? This walk is for survivors, families, supporters, and health care providers. Bring your kids and friends and join us to walk together, heal together, laugh together, and make a difference together.
Where Does the Money Go?
Teams formed by a local non-profit organization addressing MMH:
70% to Non-profit organization
25% to 2020 Mom*
5% to MOD
Teams not affiliated with a local MMH non-profit organization:
95% to 2020 Mom*
5% to MOD
*Funds to 2020 Mom: 30% will be given to the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health (NCMMH) and the remainder will be dedicated to the 2020 Mom Ambassador Program
Team Leads Want to become a Team Leader? Download the Team Lead Checklist to learn tips and tricks. Visit our materials page to download a flyer template, t-shirt art and stroller hanger. The Team Leader who raises the most money will have an all expenses paid trip to attend 2020 Mom's Annual Emerging Considerations in Maternal Mental Health Forum - February 9, 2018, Los Angeles, CA.
2017 TEAMS: March for Moms®
Alaska
Anchorage, May 13: Carrie Harris
Arizona
Tucson, April 30: Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition Team
California
Inland Empire, May 6: Inland Empire Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (Lisa Dryan)
Julupa Valley, May 6: Ashley Brock
Los Angeles, April 29: 2020 Mom (Kiley Hanish & Joy Burkhard)
Los Angeles, April 29: Maternal Mental Health Now (Ellie Handler)
Modesto, May 6: Lise Talbott
Newport Beach, April 30: Denise Vite
Oakland/East Bay, April 29: Rupa Zimmerman
Sacramento, April 29: Insights Counseling Group
Santa Rosa, April 22: Samantha Paull
Colorado
Boulder, April 29: Paula Oransky
Denver, April 22: Lyndsy Chavarria
Connecticut
New Haven, May 7: Bridget Hutchens
Florida
Miami, April 29: Maureen Fura
Orlando, April 29: Shari-Ann James
Illinois
Plainfield, May 7: Stacey Porter
Indiana
Terre Haute, June 24: Shalynne Addison
Maryland
Baltimore, May 7: Heather Hammond
Baltimore, May 7: Mental Health Association of Maryland
Massachusetts
Plymouth, June 17: Tonia Zarrella
Michigan
Grand Rapids/Caledonia, April 29: The Village Doula (Stacey Figg)
New Jersey
Glassboro, April 30: The Artemis Center for Guidance
New York
New York City, April 30: Sara Reed
New York City, April 30: Meredith Carlisle
North Carolina
Charlotte, April 29: Center for Family and Maternal Wellness
Oklahoma
Norman, April 29: Balance Women's Health
Norman, April 29: Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice
Pennsylvania
Newtown, April 30: The Artemis Center for Guidance
Utah
Salt Lake City, May 6: Tara Workman
Have Questions? E-mail stacey@2020Mom.org for more information.
Partner Sponsor
