Community-Based Solutions to Support Maternal Health, Parental Well‑Being, and Reduce Social Isolation

This workshop training will feature innovative and community-centered partnerships across Maine that are working to bridge service gaps and improve family, maternal, and child health outcomes. The focus of the presentations will be on improving social isolation, including in rural and underserved communities. Together, these examples will illustrate how Maine is weaving together policy, peer support, and technological innovation to strengthen family wellness across the state. The Maine Doula Coalition and The Maine Women's Lobby underscore how doula and childbirth education services foster social support, reduce isolation, and improve maternal mental health, with doulas serving as vital connectors in rural communities. The Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition spotlights how parent support groups build community resilience, improve parental confidence, enable peer relationships, foster long-term mutual support, and reduce loneliness. Maine Family Planning shares about their pilot of the Mammha smartphone app and how it improves access to perinatal mental health care and support. The app integrates screening, SMS check-ins, peer support, mindfulness tools, and telehealth counseling, delivering critical care via digital platforms.