Key Takeaways
- The Collaborative Care Model is an evidence-based approach that integrates primary care with behavioral health services through a coordinated, multidisciplinary framework.
- In Los Angeles County, a five-year initiative is deploying the Collaborative Care Model to ensure that mothers receive timely and appropriate mental health care throughout the perinatal period.
- Four cohorts of Los Angeles Federally Qualified Health Centers — reaching over 300 mothers across the county — are receiving implementation support through the initiative, with ongoing sustainability work to ensure that integrated mental health care for mothers continues.
Improving maternal mental health care in California pays dividends — strengthening families, supporting healthy child development, and fostering well-being for the next generation of Californians. The Los Angeles County Maternal Mental Health Access (LAMMHA) initiative is a significant effort to identify and treat perinatal mental health conditions in the county that is home to one in four California births.
At the core of this initiative is the Collaborative Care Model, an evidence-based approach that integrates primary care with behavioral health services through a coordinated, multidisciplinary framework. LAMMHA is a five-year initiative funded by CHCF that aims to teach Los Angeles Federally Qualified Health Centers how to implement the Collaborative Care Model. By leveraging the model’s emphasis on systematic screening, evidence-based treatment, and consistent follow-up, LAMMHA streamlines the delivery of mental health care to mothers in participating clinics. This approach not only enhances early identification of common maternal mental health issues but also fosters connection among care providers.
This explainer offers a high-level overview of LAMMHA’s goals and strategic components. It also shares lessons to date from the initiative and ongoing work to sustain and expand implementation in Los Angeles. This resource is intended for community clinics, health care leaders and providers, and policymakers seeking actionable insights to transform support systems and health outcomes for mothers throughout the county.
Authors & Contributors
Ian Bennett
Professor, University of Washington
Tess Grover
Research Coordinator, University of Washington
Mindy Vredevoogd
Assistant Director, University of Washington
