The following resources offer information on the maternal depression and Home Visiting Programs and its effectiveness to support pregnant women, women and young children. These resources aim to strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, encourage positive parenting, and promote child development.
Addressing Maternal Depression and Home Visiting Programs (PDF - 1,443 KB)
Various Authors (2014)
Zero to Three, 34 (5)
Presents a series of articles on maternal depression in early childhood and home visiting, presenting innovating approaches to prevention and treatment. Synthesizes the current research on the impact of maternal depression on children, documenting how depression affects growth and development. Presents numerous approaches and interventions including universal screens for depression and the challenges associated with the screenings as well as components for effective screening outcomes.
Enhancing Home Visitation With Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Mackrain & Mytton-Ortega (2013)
Zero to Three, 33(5)
Illustrates one home visitation programs efforts to integrate early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) and highlights the consultations role in supporting the home visitor through reflective case consultation and collaboration to strengthen the family in need.
Limiting Home Visiting Effects: Maternal Depression as a Moderator of Child Maltreatment
Easterbrooks, Bartlett, Raskin, Goldberg, Contreras, & Kotake (2013)
Pediatrics, 132
Illustrates a study conducted via the Healthy Families Massachusetts, a statewide child maltreatment prevention program, that examined the prevalence of maternal depressive symptoms and the link between depression and child maltreatment in first time mothers that received visits from paraprofessional homevistors.
Maternal Mental Health Outcomes and Children's Mental Health and Home Visiting
Ammerman & Tandon (2012)
Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development, Strategic Knowledge Cluster on ECD, & Presents innovative research related to home visitation programs' identification and response to maternal depression, identifies gaps in this existing research, and provides recommendations for the practice and policy community on addressing maternal depression within home visitation.
Six-month Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial to Prevent Perinatal Depression in Low-income Home Visiting Clients
Tandon & Leis & Mendelson & Perry & Kemp (2014)
Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18(10)
Explores a study conducted to determine the consequences of perinatal depression (PD) for mothers and children of low socioeconomic status receiving home visitation services. Results present outcomes and impacts of the study, incudes recommendations to improve hove visitation services for preventing PD.
What Does It Mean When We Screen? A Closer Examination of Perinatal Depression and Psychosocial Risk Screening Within One MCH Home Visiting Program
Price & Masho (2014)
Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18(10)
Discusses the importance of perinatal depression screening for maternal child health and home visitation programs, comparing results from women who were “at risk” for perinatal depression and experiencing stressful live events. Recommendations for a comprehensive understanding of women's experiences are included.