Iowa Maternal Psychiatric Access and Consultation Team (IMPACT) is a forthcoming perinatal psychiatric access program that will build the confidence and capacity of Iowa’s healthcare professionals by providing them real-time consultations with our state’s perinatal psychiatrists. Iowa will be joining over 30 other states who operate a similar access program model, the first of which was introduced over a decade ago in Massachusetts.

In addition to connecting OBs, midwives, pediatricians, psychiatrists and others with the leading perinatal mental health experts in Iowa, IMPACT will provide resources and referrals directly to moms needing help through system navigators in their own region of the state. Additionally, the perinatal psychiatrists will provide ongoing technical support and educational opportunities to Iowa’s healthcare workforce so they can better screen, diagnose, and treat their perinatal patients.

WHY

Perinatal mental health disorders are the #1 complication of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting at least 1 in 5 birthing people. The vast majority of these parents will never receive treatment, which has negative ripple effects for the whole family’s well-being, as well as the community and the economy. The estimated cost of untreated perinatal mental health conditions is over $6,000 per mom/baby dyad annually, which costs the state $28M every year for these estimated 4,500 families.

WHO

The Mind the Gap Coalition of over 100 maternal health-facing organizations in Iowa is led by Postpartum Support International’s Iowa Chapter and Iowa ACES 360.