Babies First – Perinatal Mental Health Focus Group (see sign-in sheet)
UCSF Fresno Medical Research
November 7, 2008
1. Highest priority mental health needs for Perinatal in Fresno County:
 Adolescents
 Post Partum Depression (can also affect newborn or other young children in
household)
 Teen Pregnancies (12 year olds—6th grade)
 Age 0-5 mental health issues
 Attachment issues (ability to attach to care giver)
 Behavioral problems as early as kindergarten/1st grade
 Access (places of service) & Engagement
 Cultural Awareness and language barriers
 Community education regarding infant and early years mental health
 Outreach and engagement to entire public
 Parent/caregivers of children with special needs
 Dr. Chao added that the true concern is Peripartum mood disorders (depression,
anxiety disorder, OCD)
2. Prevention and early intervention activities in Fresno:
 FACT (Family Adolescent and Child Treatment)
 FFT
 PCIT/IY
 Early childhood mental health consultation model
 Early Head Start
 Spirit of Women
 West Care
 PATHS
 EPU
 Make Parenting a Pleasure
 NAMI Fresno
 Federal SMART project for 0-12 for substance abuse families
 Youth leadership institution
3. Settings for addressing Pei needs:
 Faith Based locations
 Schools (starting at kindergarten)
 Internet
 Media
 Migrant Camps
 Rural areas
 Mobile Mental Health Services
 Primary Care
 Malls
 Centralized location
4. Additional comments/concerns
 Get basic information out to pregnant girls/teens/women, such as “this drug will do
this to your baby”.
 Mental Health Training for staff, teachers, parents, primary care givers
 Advocacy is necessary
 Peer support is needed
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Have a mental health check list provided to any one in contact with consumers to
check for signs of mental health issues (i.e. Fire Department, Police, Social Service
staff, others)
Deaf Community is neglected; engage the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing to
these Focus Groups so their voice is heard
Youth and adolescent leadership and support is needed
Marketing---stores, malls, movies, fast food
Build value of the self, especially in children and youth, and pregnant/mothering
teens