The Shasta Family YMCA and Shasta County Public Health have collaborated to provide free Mother-to-Mother support groups. Moms can face postpartum challenges and feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed or not like themselves. A lot of moms lack family support, feel isolated, and suffer in silence.
The Mother-to-Mother group addresses multiple issues new moms can experience and provides the resources to overcome them. The group focuses on mental health, mother-infant attachment, social connectivity, and self-care practices in a welcoming, peer-led environment, where mothers of children can share, connect, and heal together. The group offers a judgment-free space to talk and be heard with support from moms who understand. Trained facilitators provide tools to manage emotional well-being and help to strengthen mom-child bonds.
The moms meet in the Family Space upstairs at the Y, while their children are safe and engaged in the Y's Child Watch program. This allows moms to participate without the distractions or concerns of managing and/or worrying about their children. And, while the moms are bonding and building friendships, the children are as well!
This group is an opportunity to build friendships and community connection, as evident when the moms leave the building laughing and chatting all in good spirits. Participants have continued their friendships beyond the 8-week program.
One of the participants writes: "The Mother-to-Mother group has been such a grounding and encouraging space for me. As a mom juggling a lot, it's been comforting to connect with other women who truly understand the ups and downs of motherhood. I always leave feeling more supported, less alone, and reminded that I’m doing my best—and that’s enough. I've made going to group each week part of my self-care routine during this pregnancy because I don't get the support in many other places. Thank you for giving us this space to connect."
At the Y, we support programs that help build healthier individuals, because healthier individuals build stronger families and stronger communities.
If you are a young mother in need of support, please contact Pamela Heisler with Public Health at 530.225.3763.
Disclaimer: This is a stock photo and not of any participants in the program.