Build relationships with other moms. Learn research-informed strategies to manage the challenges of motherhood.
This 9-week, In-Person program consisting of 90-minute Conversation Circles, ideal for moms with young kids (youngest child between 0-6 months) will make the life a little easier to navigate. Join a community of moms who ‘get it’. Talk openly about the ups and downs. Learn research-informed strategies to manage the challenges.
Each weekly Conversation Circle focuses on a skill that makes motherhood easier to navigate, and includes 50% structured learning and 50% facilitated peer-to-peer conversation.
The fee for this program will be determined on a pay what you can basis, taking into account your current financial situation in order to make the group accessible to all and remove financial barriers. The operational cost is $450 per person but we are subsidizing that cost to accomplish making it accessible. If you know anyone who may be interested in sponsoring the program please let us know.
This is a research-informed program to improve maternal health and build high-trust relationships. It was co-developed by local experts.
STEP 1: Sign up for the waiting list to be notified when the next session is starting.
STEP 2: When the next session is scheduled, our team will reach out to you to provide a link to fill out our Screening Intake Form. This step will determine your eligibility for the program. Upon completing this form, a member of our team will reach out to you for next steps.
STEP 3: Once a member of our team reaches out to you for next steps, eligible participants will confirm their registration and provide payment through Jane App, and complete our Scales, and Skills and Demographics Forms (instructions and information which will be communicated to participants via email).
The language content of this workshop is geared toward parents who identify as women or who were socialized as women. This is a safe and inclusive space for birth parents, foster parents, and adoptive parents.
This program was created by 3 Southwestern Ontario collaborators with a passion for preventing maternal anxiety and depression:
Chelsea Hicks-Webster, MSc, Certified Life Coach and Parent Educator, and founder of Creating Me.
Chelsea struggled big time when her kids were young. Life coaching gave her the tools to find true happiness in the chaos of motherhood. Now, she provides affordable support to other moms experiencing the growing pains of materscence.
Laura Glenney, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Journey Well Health & Wellness.
Laura believes in prevention over cure. She treats many women with postpartum mood disorders and wanted to see a local, evidence-based program to prevent women from falling into these ruts.
Jesmila Murusalin, Registered Nurse and Masters of Public Health
Jesmila is a public health nurse in Toronto. She did the literature review and underpinned the creation of this program. She’s also contributing to program evaluation and continuous improvement.
Other experts gave valuable input too:
Kate Andrews, Public Health Nurse, Southwestern Public Health
Dr. Kofi Antwi-Boasiako, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work at King’s University College
Dr. Stephanie Baird, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work at King’s University College
Barbara Dabrowska, Manager of Child, Family & Community Support Service Unit, Oxford Children’s Aid Society
Sandra Kelebuda, Clinical Case Manager, Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley
Tim Kelly, Manager of the Family Violence Counselling Program at Oxford Children’s Aid Society
Nada Slager, Registered Psychotherapist, Journey Well Health and Wellness
Karrie Skillings, Public Health Nurse, Southwestern Public Health
Dr. Akin Taiwo, Associate Professor, School of Social Work at King’s University College
Mary Van Den Neucker, Program Manager, Southwestern Public Health
Dr. Ryan Van Lieshout, Associate Professor, McMaster University
