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For County DHS · CYF · DOH · Elected & Appointed Officials
Every new parent in your county, one text message away from human support
NurturePA pairs pregnant and postpartum moms with a trained volunteer "mentor mom" — free, confidential, and entirely by text message — from pregnancy to their child’s fifth birthday.
For counties who want to improve their maternal and infant health outcomes, NurturePA is a universal, low-cost prevention tier of support that catches depression and anxiety early and connects families to existing resources, clinical supports, early intervention services, and a nonjudgmental, listening ear.
No appointments to make, transportation to pay for, or childcare to arrange — just real, one-on-one support from another mom who's been there.
The cost of doing nothing:
$31,800
Average societal cost of one untreated case of perinatal depression or anxiety — per mother–child pair, from conception to age 5.
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NurturePA supports families across that exact window: pregnancy through the child's fifth birthday. Since 2014, we've helped more than 6,200 Pennsylvania families navigate their postpartum and early childhood journeys.
The problem:
1 in 5
pregnant and postpartum women are affected by a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder.
60%
of perinatal women with depressive symptoms are never diagnosed.
50%
of those who are diagnosed never receive treatment.
Perinatal depression and anxiety are common, costly — and mostly missed.
Nationally, untreated cases from a single year of births cost an estimated $14 billion — driven by lost productivity, preterm births, and added health spending. Identifying these cases and supporting women in accessing treatment means savings for governments, insurers, and employers. It also saves lives.
Universal, upstream, proactive solution
Open to every family, not only those already involved in a system. A voluntary, non-stigmatizing touchpoint before needs become crises, available to moms at all income levels and in any language.
Complements existing service delivery models
Flexible enough to support your county's unique priorities and existing investments by providing supplemental outreach infrastructure that creates more referrals for local services and a better understanding of what resources are available.
Built on research, with demonstrated positive impact for moms and kids
Based on the 5 Protective Factors to Prevent Child Abuse and child development recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, our built-in parenting education curriculum supports positive outcomes across generations.
Cost-effective and accessible support
Volunteer mentors and a purpose-built platform keep per-family costs low and reach rural families far from services. Delivered entirely via text message, our service requires no transportation, childcare, or appointments. We meet moms where they are.
How It Works
Peer support that meets parents wherever they are, from the comfort of their phone.
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Enroll
Match & Welcome
Parents sign up through hospitals, providers, county programs, or on their own. Open to anyone who is pregnant or raising a child under 5. We customize outreach methods to support your community's needs.
Each parent is paired with a trained, supervised volunteer mentor mom. It’s anonymous and judgment-free — they never meet in person, and only share what they're comfortable sharing.
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Exchange Text Messages
Mentors check in regularly, answer everyday questions, and share age-appropriate activities and local resources. Moms are welcome to text any time, day or night, and mentors will respond within 24 hours.
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Support & Connect
Mentors screen for postpartum depression and anxiety eight times in the first year and connect parents to clinical care, county services, and community organizations when they need more.
Learn & Share
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We keep government partners updated on outreach efforts, geographic distribution of sign-ups (by zip code), information on who we are (and aren't yet) reaching, and aggregated information on community needs and emerging trends — while always maintaining strict confidentiality and protecting the privacy of our participating moms.
Let's talk about the families in your county.
A 30-minute briefing for DHS, CYF, health department, or elected/appointed officials — free of charge, with your county’s birth data and information on potential partnership structures.