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CASE STUDY

Transforming Perinatal Care Together: A Ten-Year Partnership Between GPS and Perinatal Support Washington

“Leading groups for parents has reminded me that parenting is never easy, but with the GPS tools I’ve gained, I can guide parents toward connection, support, and ways to navigate the hardest moments together.”
—GPS Group Peer Support Facilitator

For over a decade, Perinatal Support Washington (PSWA) has been at the forefront of addressing the critical mental health needs of perinatal individuals and families. As one of GPS Group Peer Support’s longest-standing collaborators, PSWA has leveraged the GPS model to build a powerful, inclusive, and trauma-informed peer support network that continues to transform lives across Washington State. Over the past six years, PSWA has used this partnership to establish an unparalleled framework for training and support, delivering profound, measurable impact.

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Challenges

The perinatal period is one of the most profound transitions in a birthing person’s life, shaped by personal history, societal expectations, and cultural influences. While it can be joyful, it can also be overwhelming, exhausting, and, at times, difficult for both parent and baby. Serious mental health challenges are more common than previously recognized, and social support is the most effective intervention for mitigating distress—yet many parents lack adequate, accessible support.

Social support is known to be one of the best interventions in the mitigation of crisis and emotional distress at any time, but especially in the perinatal period. Unfortunately many parents do not have adequate social support and often the support they do have may be limited or hard to access.

Experience

Through its partnership with GPS, PSWA has achieved what few organizations can—a program that is both evidence-based and deeply personal, grounded in research yet responsive to the lived experiences of participants. GPS’s unique model has empowered PSWA to create a network of leaders and groups that are adaptable, inclusive, and profoundly impactful.

The partnership between PSWA and GPS is a testament to the power of collaboration. United by a shared mission to empower parents during the perinatal period, PSWA and GPS have combined expertise, innovation, and evidence-based practices to redefine perinatal mental health care. With vital funding from the Perigee Foundation and the Washington State Department of Children and Families, PSWA has trained hundreds of peer support leaders, creating a scalable and sustainable model that reaches families in diverse settings across the state.

Impact & Transformation

The transformative impact of PSWA’s GPS-powered groups is undeniable. According to PSWA’s 2022–2023 annual report, participants reported extraordinary levels of engagement and life-changing benefits from their group experiences:

55% of participants reported reduced feelings of anxiety and depression.
58% experienced less stress in responding to their baby’s needs.
53% reported increased satisfaction in their role as a parent or caregiver.

The decade-long collaboration between PSWA and GPS exemplifies how innovative partnerships can revolutionize support systems. Together, they have transformed the perinatal mental health landscape in Washington State, equipping facilitators and organizations with the tools to support families so they can thrive.

The voices of facilitators echo skills learned, gratitude to GPS, and the power of guiding parents toward connection and hope:

  • “As a GPS facilitator, I’ve learned how to weave voices together so every parent feels seen. Because of this training, I can create a safe, welcoming space where new parents of color connect deeply with one another—and even their babies begin to build community. I’m so grateful to GPS for giving me the tools to make this possible.”
  • “Through GPS, I’ve developed reflective listening skills that help parents feel truly heard. Each week I see parents exhale, knowing this is a place where their feelings matter. I’m thankful to GPS for teaching me how to hold that kind of space.”
  • “The GPS training gave me grounding and group facilitation skills that open doors for conversations our communities rarely have—especially about mental health in early parenting. It’s inspiring to see parents find their voices and lean on each other, and I’m grateful to GPS for showing me how to guide that process.”
  • “Running these groups reminds me why GPS matters. With the closing and grounding practices I learned, I can help parents who arrive tired and overwhelmed, leave lighter, more connected, and more hopeful. I carry deep gratitude to GPS for training me to do this work.”