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About Us
Every woman, birther, and family deserves the mental health care they need to thrive during the perinatal period.
Background
The Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Project (CO PMHP) is a statewide organization that evolved from the Colorado Chapter of Postpartum Support International. Postpartum Support International. While CO PMHP still serves as the Colorado Chapter of Postpartum Support International, the organization is now an independent entity.
CO PMHP's work broadly spans the state and is multi-faceted. We offer tailored perinatal support and programs to several populations including moms & birthers, providers & clinicians and others who serve families during the perinatal period.
Families
Our mental health-centered work with mothers/birthers happens through our direct service program called The Birth Squad. The Birth Squad is designed to provide perinatal mental health in a variety of formats throughout the entire perinatal period. This work is currently limited to moms/birthers located in the Denver Metro area but we are striving to offer our programs statewide.
Providers
Our offerings for providers, clinicians and allies includes professional development opportunities, training scholarships, networking, collaboration and advocacy opportunities. This work is for providers, clinicians and allies across the state of Colorado.
Vision
A thriving, inclusive community of moms, birthers, families, and providers who support one another and heal together.
Mission
The Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Project (CO PMHP) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to transform Colorado into a state where every mother, birther, and family has access to quality, affordable mental health support by connecting families to resources, raising awareness, and offering opportunities for training and support for those who provide care.
Values
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Inclusion & Belonging
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High Quality & Compassionate Care
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Respect
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Authenticity
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Trauma-informed
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Social Justice
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Flexibility & Responsiveness
Our People
Kristin Aaker
Co-Founder, Co-Executive Director
Patrece Hairston Peetz, PsyD
Co-Founder, Co-Executive Director
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Adrianne Sloan, PhD
Health Psychologist
Emely Romero, LCSW, CLC, PMH-C
Bilingual Mental Health Facilitator
Tatiana Turo-Handy, PsyD
Psychologist/ Bilingual Mental Health Facilitator
Leslie Caballero
Bilingual Peer Mental Health Specialist
Candi CdeBaca, MSW
Consultant & Peer Mental Health Specialist
Coming Soon!
2025
Natalie Mohan
Board Chair
Jennifer Harned Adams
Board Secretary
Laurel Hicks
Board Member
Chelsea Walker Mao
Board Member
Our Programs
PRENATAL
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Prenatal Classes
The Prenatal offering is a series of topics designed to prepare you for new parenthood. The class topics focus on the things we think about most leading up to the birth of a child: sleep, nutrition, infant feeding, infant safety (including infant and child CPR), infant brain development, complimentary and alternative treatment options (i.e., acupuncture and pelvic floor therapy), and emotional health and wellbeing in the early months after your birth. Each topic is presented by a new expert; professionals you can lean on once your baby is born.
In both formats of the classes, you'll have an opportunity to connect and meet with other families where you can build a support system in your same life stage. Having a community of support is critical during those early months and years. Additionally, we want to help prepare your home for your new baby! At the last session, we will be gifting one family a large baby item (e.g., stroller, car seat, etc).
Full-Length Version
The classes take place on six (6) Sundays, 2pm-4pm. Light snacks provided.
Next available full-length cohort: 1/25/2026 -3/8/2026
*(Skip 2/15 for Presidents Day)
Bootcamp Version
The classes take place over the course of two Sundays in a row, 12-4pm. Lunch is provided on both Sundays.
Next available bootcamp cohort: TBD
POSTPARTUM
Postpartum Support Series
The Postpartum Support Series is a bilingual/bicultural space for healing for moms/birthers. This series is designed to be a space to center the emotional wellbeing of participants while discussing in a group setting the change, complexity and challenges of the postpartum experience.
There are several group meetings per week both virtual and in-person and each month offers a guiding topic for discussions in all of the groups. While the groups are flexible enough to discuss anything that participants need to discuss, the monthly topic offers moms/birthers joining groups the security and comfort of a starting point for dialogue.
Our groups are:
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Led by licensed mental health professionals and peer support specialists who reflect our communities and understand the realities of navigating pregnancy and postpartum.
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Evidence-based
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Trauma-informed
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Grounded in research
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Responsive to the needs of the families we serve
Group Options
Monday- 10am-11am, Bilingual (English/Spanish), Peer-Led, In-Person
Thursday-11am-12pm, Bilingual Lactation (English/Spanish), Clinician-Led, Virtual
Friday-11:30 am-12:30 pm, English, Clinician-Led, Virtual
**For real-time updates, download the calendar.
Monthly Topics
January - Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
February - Physical Recovery & Self-Care
March - Identity Changes
April - Navigating the Early Days & Infant Development
May - Nourishing Your Baby and Yourself
June - Relationship & Family Dynamics
July - Survival Skills: New Parent Edition
August - Healthy Adjustment & Transition Back to Work
September - Help me, help you: Real Talk on Support
October - Parenting Essentials
November - Parenting through Culture & Tradition
December - Celebrating Motherhood & Parenting
MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEETUPS
Monthly Community Meetup Series
The Birth Squad Monthly Meetup Series is an informal gathering where we bring together Denver area moms & birthers to play & build community. Our current meetup partner is the Children's Museum of Denver.
Join us for a mental-wellness-centered free and fun meetup at the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus. During these monthly meetups we have intentional mental wellness check-ins, we learn about our children's development related to play and we play in one of the most beautifully curated play spaces in the metro area!
Whether you're a new mom/birther or have been around the block a few times, you and baby(ies) are welcome! Come ready to connect, learn, play, and find your people.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Mental Health Resources
Find a therapist, support group, doula, book, or even a social media account that will help you cope and heal during the perinatal period.
Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Project (CO PMHP) serves as the Colorado chapter of Postpartum Support International (PSI). PSI’s "Online Provider Directory" is a searchable list of professionals who specialize in working with moms, birthers, and parents.
PSI also offers access to Colorado-based local coordinators, over 50 online support groups, and a HelpLine that can be reached via phone or text. See all PSI’s resources for mothers here.
Emergency Help
Need to talk to someone immediately? Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
Local Partners
Explore a selection organizations and services that support moms, birthers, and parents in Colorado.
Resources for Dads and Partners
Perinatal mental health can affect any parent, and if you are a dad or partner to the birthing parent, you are not alone. While we don’t offer in-person, Colorado-based support for dads and partners, PSI has online support groups specifically for you.
Other local organizations that provide support locally for fathers include:
PROVIDER RESOURCES
(Click thumbnails to learn about CO PMHP provider resources, trainings, workshops & networking opportunities.)
Provider Resources
Every professional that supports parents during pregnancy or in the postpartum period can become more effective and deepen their support by learning about perinatal mental health. You are in a position to identify symptoms and point new parents and birthers in the direction of resources. In doing so, you can change a life.
Whether you are a mental health professional, physician, nurse, doula, breastfeeding counselor or other practitioner, there’s a community of professionals who specialize in perinatal mental health waiting for you.
Through serving as the Colorado Chapter of Postpartum Support International, CO PMHP supports clinicians through:
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Providing scholarships with Colorado providers to attend PSI trainings and obtain PSI certifications.
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Making connections to resources such as the Colorado-based local coordinators.
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Representing PSI in Colorado.
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Keeping PSI informed on the state of perinatal mental health in Colorado.
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Keeping local providers connected to PSI.
Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color
The Alliance is a Colorado networking group of professionals who serve the perinatal population that collaborates, advocates, and builds stronger support systems for both families and professionals of color. Join us to fill a critical gap in support services for communities of color around Perinatal Mental Health.
Benefits include:
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Diverse referral network
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Connections with other clinicians and meaningful networking opportunities
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Statewide collaboration opportunities
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Capacity building opportunities
If you identify as a person of color and this group aligns with your personal or professional interests, please reach out to us.
Downloadable Resources for Providers
