The applicant will administer a statewide Perinatal Mental Health Training Hub and coordinate Hub activities, with the goal of increasing and developing the Perinatal Mental Health workforce in Maryland. The applicant will facilitate the completion of the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Perinatal Mental Health Certification Program for a cohort of eligible participants, including providers of psychotherapy, psychopharmacology professionals, and affiliated professionals such as community health workers, doulas, and peer support specialists, who serve the perinatal population in the target jurisdictions. 3.2.2 Needs Assessment 3.2.2.1 Within the first 6-months of the award, the applicant must complete a brief needs assessment of the perinatal mental health workforce in Maryland and work with the MDH contract monitor to better understand the needs for perinatal mental health support in Maryland. The applicant will provide a report outlining the findings. This report must: ● describe the current state of the perinatal mental health workforce in Maryland, including the number of providers who are providing perinatal mental health services in Maryland by jurisdiction or region, the types of certifications specific to perinatal mental health completed by providers practicing in Maryland, and basic demographic information of the Maryland perinatal mental health workforce; ● identify the number of individuals who are eligible for the perinatal mental health certification, by profession and jurisdiction or region; ● identify priority populations in Maryland that would be most beneficial to receive the perinatal mental health certification from receiving; and ● barriers to becoming certified in perinatal mental health, and providing mental health services to the perinatal population. 3.2.3 Recruitment and Onboarding 3.2.3.1 Applicant will recruit health professionals who serve individuals during the perinatal period, who are eligible for the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Perinatal Mental Health Certification Program (PMH-C). Eligible individuals include: ● Mental Health/Psychotherapy professionals ● Psychopharmacology professionals, all professions that prescribe medications including Advanced Practice Nurses ● Affiliated Professions, including peer support specialists, nurses, doulas, lactation support specialists, support group leaders, community health workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dieticians, and others ● Professionals who serve the Eastern Shore (Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Somerset, Wicomico, Talbot, Queen Annes, Caroline and Worcester counties) and Prince George’s Counties, should be prioritized in year 1 of the grant. Recruitment will expand statewide in years 2 and 3 of the grant. ● Professionals who identify as Non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic or who fluently speak a second language other than English should be prioritized, as people who identify as a similar race/ethnicity or who do not speak English fluently experience a higher burden of severe maternal morbidity and mortality in Maryland.
