Helping Men Beat the Baby Blues
and Overcome Depression
More Information About The Melanie Blocker Stokes
MOTHERS Act
If you are interested in adding your individual name or that of you organization, or website to our state by state listing, please email Susan Stone with your name STATE and any affiliations/credentials. If your represent an organization, we need a contact name. This list will be maintained until the legislation is passed! A summary of the bill and the actual legislation is below. For more information click here.
Please call the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Members and express your support for the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. You do not have to be from their state to call with your encouragement. This is a federal committee. Click here for a listing of all members and their telephone numbers.
To watch a video of the Capitol Hill Press Conference in support of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act with U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Congressman Bobby L. Rush, Brooke Shields, Mary Jo Codey, Carol Blocker, Sylvia Lasalandra and Susan Dowd Stone click here.
The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act
(S. 324/H.R.20)
as of March 2, 2009
The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, sponsored by Senators Menendez and Representative Rush, will help provide support services to women suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis and will also help educate mothers and their families about these conditions. In addition, it will support research into the causes, diagnoses and treatments for postpartum depression and psychosis.
“Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom’s Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act” or the “Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act”
TITLE I- Research
Encourages Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate and continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for, postpartum conditions. Also, encourages a National Public Awareness Campaign, to be administered by HHS, to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and psychosis.
Includes a Sense of Congress that the Director of the National Institutes of Health may conduct a nationally representative longitudinal study of the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy (intended or unintended) in various ways, including carrying the pregnancy to term and parenting the child, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the child for adoption, miscarriage, and having an abortion. This study may assess the incidence, timing, magnitude, and duration of the immediate and long-term mental health consequences (positive and negative) of these pregnancy outcomes.
TITLE II- Delivery of Services
Encourages HHS to make grants available for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression.
(Entities): Makes grants available to public or nonprofit private entity, which may include a State or local government, a public-private partnership, a recipient of a grant under the Healthy Start program, a public or nonprofit private hospital, community-based organization, hospice, ambulatory care facility, community health center, migrant health center, public housing primary care center, or homeless health center, or any other appropriate public or nonprofit private entity.
(Activities): Eligible activities include delivering or enhancing outpatient, inpatient and home-based health and support services, including case management and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions. Activities may also include providing education about postpartum conditions to new mothers and their families, including symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources, in order to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment.
TITLE III- General Provisions
(Funding): Authorizes $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
(HHS Report): Requires the Secretary of HHS to conduct a study on the benefits of screening for postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
(Limitation): The Secretary may not utilize amounts made available under this Act to carry out activities or programs that are duplicative of activities or programs that are currently being carried out through the Dept of HHS.
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Supporters
American College of Nurse Midwives
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American Psychological Association
American Psychiatric Association
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Childbirth Connection
Children’s Defense Fund
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Family Mental Health Foundation
Guttmacher
The Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Foundation
Jenny's Light
Kristin Brooks Hope Center
March of Dimes
Melanie Blocker Stokes Foundation
Mental Health America
NARAL, Pro-Choice America
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association of Social Workers
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women’s Law Center
OWL- The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Postpartum Support International
Suicide Prevention Action Network USA
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Understanding Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a devastating mood disorder which strikes many women during and after pregnancy. It is a serious and disabling condition that affects anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of new mothers. In the United States, there may be as many as 800,000 new cases of postpartum conditions each year. These mothers often experience signs of depression and may lose interest in friends and family, feel overwhelming sadness or even have thoughts of harming the baby or themselves. The cause of postpartum depression is not known, but changes in hormone levels, a difficult pregnancy or birth, a family history of depression and other biopsychosocial stressors are considered possible factors.
Bill Language
111TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION S. 324
To provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. MENENDEZ introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee January 09
A BILL
To provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Melanie Blocker Stokes
Mom’s Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Re-
search, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act’’ or the ‘‘Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act’’.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act
(1) the term ‘‘postpartum condition’’ means postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis; and
(2) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
TITLE I—RESEARCH ON POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS
SEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES.
(a) CONTINUATION OF ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary is encouraged to continue activities on postpartum conditions.
(b) PROGRAMS FOR POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary is encouraged to continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and treatments for, postpartum conditions. Activities under such subsection shall include conducting and supporting the following:
(1) Basic research concerning the etiology and causes of the conditions.
(2) Epidemiological studies to address the frequency and natural history of the conditions and the differences among racial and ethnic groups with respect to the conditions.
(3) The development of improved screening and diagnostic techniques.
(4) Clinical research for the development and evaluation of new treatments.
(5) Information and education programs for health care professionals and the public, which may include a coordinated national campaign to increase the awareness and knowledge of postpartum conditions. Activities under such a national campaign may
(A) include public service announcements through television, radio, and other means; and
(B) focus on
(i) raising awareness about screening;
(ii) educating new mothers and their families about postpartum conditions to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment; and
(iii) ensuring that such education includes complete information concerning postpartum conditions, including its symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources.
SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF RELATIVE MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN OF RESOLVING A PREGNANCY.
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health may conduct a nationally representative longitudinal study (during the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2018) of the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy (intended and unintended) in various ways, including carrying the pregnancy to term and parenting the child, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the child for adoption, miscarriage, and having an abortion. This study may assess the incidence, timing, magnitude, and duration of the immediate and long-term mental health consequences (positive or negative) of these pregnancy outcomes.
(b) REPORT.—Subject to the completion of the study under subsection (a), beginning not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter for the duration of the study, such Director may prepare and submit to the Congress reports on the findings of the study.
TITLE II—DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.
Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 330G the following:
SEC. 330G–1. SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH A POSTPARTUM CONDITION AND THEIR FAMILIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make grants to eligible entities for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with a postpartum condition and their families.
(b) CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.—To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary shall ensure that projects funded under subsection (a) provide education and services with respect to the diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions. The Secretary may allow such projects to include the following:
(1) Delivering or enhancing outpatient and home-based health and support services, including case management and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions, and delivering or enhancing support services for their families.
(2) Delivering or enhancing inpatient care management services that ensure the well-being of the mother and family and the future development of the infant.
(3) Improving the quality, availability, and organization of health care and support services (including transportation services, attendant care, homemaker services, day or respite care, and providing counseling on financial assistance and insurance) for individuals with a postpartum condition and support services for their families.
(4) Providing education to new mothers and, as appropriate, their families about postpartum conditions to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment. Such education may include
(A) providing complete information on postpartum conditions, symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources; and
(B) in the case of a grantee that is a State, hospital, or birthing facility
(i) providing education to new mothers and fathers, and other family members as appropriate, concerning postpartum conditions before new mothers leave the health facility; and
(ii) ensuring that training programs regarding such education are carried out at the health facility.
(c) INTEGRATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.—To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary may integrate the grant program under this section with other grant programs carried out by the Secretary, including the program under section 330.
(d) CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.—A grant may be made under this section only if the applicant involved makes the following agreements:
(1) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will be used for administration, accounting, reporting, and program oversight functions.
(2) The grant will be used to supplement and not supplant funds from other sources related to the treatment of postpartum conditions.
(3) The applicant will abide by any limitations deemed appropriate by the Secretary on any charges to individuals receiving services pursuant to the grant. As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, such limitations on charges may vary based on the financial circumstances of the individual receiving services.
(4) The grant will not be expended to make payment for services authorized under subsection (a) to the extent that payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, with respect to such services
(A) under any State compensation program, under an insurance policy, or under any Federal or State health benefits program; or
(B) by an entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis.
(5) The applicant will, at each site at which the applicant provides services funded under subsection (a), post a conspicuous notice informing individuals who receive the services of any Federal policies that apply to the applicant with respect to the imposition of charges on such individuals.
(6) For each grant period, the applicant will submit to the Secretary a report that describes how grant funds were used during such period.
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide technical assistance to entities seeking a grant under this section in order to assist such entities in complying with the requirements of this section.
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) The term ‘eligible entity’—
(A) means a public or nonprofit private entity; and
(B) includes a State or local government, public-private partnership, recipient of a grant under section 330H (relating to the Healthy Start Initiative), public or nonprofit private hospital, community-based organization, hospice, ambulatory care facility, community health center, migrant health center, public housing primary care center, or homeless health center.
(2) The term ‘postpartum condition’ means postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis.’’.
TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
To carry out this Act and the amendment made by section 201, there are authorized to be appropriated, in addition to such other sums as may be available for such purpose—
(1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
SEC. 302. REPORT BY THE SECRETARY.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary shall conduct a study on the benefits of screening for postpartum conditions.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the study required by subsection (a) and submit a report to the Congress on the results of such study.
SEC. 303. LIMITATION.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or the amendment made by section 201, the Secretary may not utilize amounts made available under this Act or such amendment to carry out activities or programs that are duplicative of activities or programs that are already being carried out through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Information on this web site is for educational purposes only. It may provide some self-help relief. However, it should not substitute for a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed mental health professional.
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