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Greetings!

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Awareness Month. In recognition, we are sharing several accounts of how loss shows up for families, and the work providers offer towards healing. We are also featuring an article on disaster preparedness for perinatal families, how our board is on the move, and a special project in tandem with the UW for pregnant and postpartum families.

Holding Space for Grief: Honoring Perinatal & Infant Loss

In a new blog post, we are introduced to Marquita Straus, one of our Nest of Care training facilitators, who shares the impact of her work, her reading list, and her personal journey with loss. As Marquita says, "October is Perinatal and Infant Loss Awareness Month, a time for us to pause as a collective and acknowledge the profound grief experienced by families whose babies have died during pregnancy, birth, or infancy. For so many families, this grief is not only silent but also unseen by the perinatal community. My work, both personally and professionally, centers on breaking that silence and ensuring families have the care, compassion, and community they deserve."

An Interview with Kiley Hanish, Founder, Return to Zero: HOPE

We are honored to share this interview with Kiley Hanish, Founder of Return to Zero: HOPE. RTZ Hope, a national nonprofit, is a community of bereaved parents, families, and providers offering inclusive resources and holistic support for anyone whose life has been touched by loss. Kiley not only discusses her story, but how to approach bereaved parents.

In explaining her work she says, "In 2014, we released the film RETURN TO ZERO, a story about our personal experience with our son who was stillborn. The film sparked much more than we anticipated — launching a grassroots movement that has crossed continents and languages, galvanizing a global community."

RTZ: HOPE is an incredible resource for loss families. Please visit their website to learn more at: rtzhope.org

Facing Loss Within a Nest of Care

In this personal story by Rikki Hinz, our Training Development Manager, she writes about how attending the Nest of Care training has helped her in her personal life, including the emotions that some experience with ambiguous loss and a subsequent pregnancy.

"I’m 7 months pregnant now, and the Nest of Care training cohort will have its last session just a month before my due date. I feel grounded in knowing that there is a community of folks out there who are holding the spectrum of impossibilities and possibilities that come with perinatal grief and loss. It gives me peace of mind for myself, and for all parents who may be facing perinatal grief and loss, and the uncertainties that come with pregnancy and birth."

Disaster-Proofing Parenthood: 5 Steps to Empower Pregnant and Postpartum Families

In this important article written by former board member Dr. Shakima “Kima” Tozay, she reminds us that disaster preparedness is a critical but overlooked piece of family planning. She writes, "Evidence indicates that pregnant and postpartum people, infants and children, women, people living with mental illness, physical disabilities, and severe medical conditions, and people experiencing homelessness are most vulnerable if a natural disaster or hazardous event were to strike. Therefore, it is crucial to empower expectant and postpartum families to remain vigilant and ready. I created the R.E.A.D.Y. acronym, which is explained in detail below, that encompasses five steps you can take to support perinatal families in becoming better prepared for crisis events."

Meet our Newest Board Members!

We are pleased to share a note from our Executive Director, Emma, regarding our newest board additions. "I'm so honored to welcome this group of individuals whose talents range from parenting, midwifery, community building, data science, and human resources. These four new board members have already brought excitement and energy to the board, rooted in dedication to the mental well-being of parents and equipping providers with the knowledge they need to support parents. Perinatal Support Washington's eleven-member Board of Directors is working to bring awareness of our services to their communities and form new partnerships to further our work across Washington State. And in the meantime, join me in welcoming Lamar, Maggie, Myla, and Krystin to PS-WA!"

If you are interested in learning more about our Board of Directors or how to get involved at PS-WA, please reach out to me at: emma.yorkjones@perinatalsupport.org

Join the Imagine Project

Are you pregnant or have a baby under 6 months old?

You may be eligible to join the IMAGINE Study — a University of Washington research project exploring how support groups via phone messaging apps can help prevent postpartum depression. All information is confidential.



What’s involved?

• Join an online support group led by a Perinatal Support Washington therapist
• Learn tools to support your mental health and well-being
• Complete surveys online or by phone
• Receive gift cards for participating!

You may qualify if you:

• Are 16 or older
• Have your own mobile phone
• Understand English or Spanish
• Live in Washington State

To learn more:

Call or text the PS-WA Warm Line at 1-888-404-7763

Email warmline@perinatalsupport.org

Or fill out this quick form: https://redcap.link/imagineuw