May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Whatcom County’s Healthy Children’s Fund is proud to support a growing number of community organizations working to strengthen the mental and behavioral health of children ages birth to five and their families.
Why invest in perinatal mental health?
The transition to motherhood and parenthood is hard enough without economic hardships and challenges accessing care and services; the need for perinatal mental health support is significant.
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders-during pregnancy or in the first 12 months after delivery-impacts one in five women in the United States, according to Postpartum Support International.
The Whatcom County Perinatal Task Force reports that an average of 2,000 babies are born in the county each year. Based on national estimates, 15 to 20 percent of new parents will experience a mood or anxiety disorder-that’s roughly 400 local parents annually. Yet only about 15 percent of those affected are likely to seek help, meaning around 340 parents in Whatcom County may not receive the care they need.
When left untreated, perinatal mental health conditions can lead to birth complications, strained family support systems and long-term impacts on both parents’ and children’s well-being, including developmental delays, increased health care costs and risk of child abuse or neglect.
There is some good news to report, though. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are treatable, and addressing these concerns early supports secure attachment and builds a foundation for lifelong mental health.
Mobile Mama Leads with Upstream Support
One Whatcom County organization that is leading this work is Mobile Mama, founded by Michelle Anderson, MA, LMHC, PMH-C. Since 2014, Mobile Mama has helped hundreds of women in Whatcom County through perinatal mental health counseling and provider training. Today, the team includes 12 clinicians and interns.
In 2022, Mobile Mama launched a clinical counseling internship program to build a local workforce trained to support parents during pregnancy and postpartum. The 600-hour program is designed for graduate students in counseling, psychology or social work. Interns receive training, supervision and direct experience working with 10 to 12 clients per week. Topics include postpartum depression, anxiety, pregnancy loss, traumatic birth, and more.
“All seven of our most recent graduates have chosen to keep serving perinatal clients right here in Whatcom County,” Anderson said. “That’s a powerful sign that this program is building a sustainable workforce and strengthening care for local families.”
Healthy Children’s Fund Expands the Program
In July 2024, the Healthy Children’s Fund awarded $164,235 to Mobile Mama to support and expand its internship program. On May 13, 2025, the Whatcom County Council approved a contract to increase the budget, allowing the program to grow from three to five interns. This investment increases access to care and trains more counselors to help Medicaid-eligible moms and other low-income clients.
“Receiving financial support from the Healthy Children’s Fund has allowed us to train and supervise more interns, which feels like a meaningful investment in our community,” Anderson said. “We’re creating a continuum of care-Medicaid clients receive high-quality therapy services while we develop the next generation of clinicians.”
Anderson said all graduating interns are surveyed to ensure they are satisfied with the overall experience, training, supervision and expectations. “We’ve had the best interns. They’ve reported that the program is well organized, highly supportive and offers a chance to serve local women who might not otherwise receive care.”
The Washington State Perinatal Collaborative is now reviewing mobile Mama’s internship model as a promising example of early intervention.
Program Outcomes (July 2024 – March 2025):
- 62 individuals were referred and received intake services
- 27 new clients began therapy
- 238 therapy sessions were delivered
- Mobile Mama more than doubled the number of sessions they can offer each quarter, growing from 176 to 385
Other Behavioral Health Contracts
The Healthy Children’s Fund also signed contracts with these organizations to expand mental and behavioral health services for young children and families in Whatcom County:
- Brigid Collins Family Support Center: $452,907
- Ferndale School District: $271,817
- Lydia Place: $474,786
- Whatcom Center for Early Learning: $398,709
- Catalyst Therapies: $199,417
Details about these contracts are on our Where Has the Money Gone So Far? page.
Caring today, shaping tomorrow
Whatcom County government prioritizes the health of children and families year-round, not just during Mental Health Awareness Month. The work of local professionals who support young children’s mental and emotional well-being is deeply valued, and their impact will continue well into the future. Voters who supported the Healthy Children’s Fund made these ongoing investments possible.
If you know a small business or provider who could expand services with financial support from the Healthy Children’s Fund, ask them to sign up for funding opportunity notifications.
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