Advanced Online Courses
Maternal Mental Health NOW is proud to offer 5 advanced-level specialized courses on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. These short 1-2 hour courses allow you to focus on a specific issue or dig in a little deeper on your own schedule from the comfort of your home. Each course offers one hour of recorded video lecture and one hour of additional readings that you can access when it's convenient for you.
5 Individual Courses:
What to Know & How to Screen
This course defines perinatal mental health for medical providers serving women of childbearing age and young children. Instructors review prevalence rates, signs and symptoms, impact, differential diagnoses, and screening tools including the PHQ9 and EPDS. The course models sensitive communication during screening by including demonstrations of screenings taking place in both clinical and outpatient settings. Suicide screening questions and risk assessment, warm referrals and treatment plans are also discussed.
Name 2 reasons why screening for PMADs is important
Name 2 tools for screening and describe their essential differences
Effectively utilize at least one screening tool for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Describe advantages and challenges in the screening process
The Role of Obstetrics & Gynecology in Screening & Care
This course makes the case for perinatal mental health screening in the obstetrician's office and providers information and resources to do so. Lecturers review the definition of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, prevalence rates, risk factors, signs, symptoms and impact of untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders on the mother, infant and developing child. The course discusses differential diagnoses and providers' recommendations on when to screen, what to do with a positive screen and successful interventions, including pscyho-pharmacology and guidelines surrounding breastfeeding and medication
Describe how maternal mental health impacts mothers, babies and children
Describe how universal maternal mental health screening in care is important for integration of care and baby's health
Recognize concerns and considerations in using psychopharmacology in breastfeeding mothers and the impact on babies
This course makes the case for perinatal mental health screening in the pediatrician's office and provides information and resources to do so. Lecturers review the definition of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, prevalence rates, risk factors, signs, symptoms and impact of untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders on the mother, infant and developing child. The course discusses differential diagnoses and providers' recommendations on when to screen, what to do with a positive screen and successful interventions, including pscyho-pharmacology and guidelines surrounding breastfeeding and medication.
Describe how universal maternal mental health screening in pediatric care is important for integration of care and infant's health
Describe how maternal mental health impacts infants, children and family
Describe key steps for using maternal mental health screening in integrated pediatric care
Identify concerns and considerations in using psychopharmacology in breastfeeding mothers and the impact on infants
Miscarriage, Stillbirth & Death
This course defines perinatal loss, addresses how infant loss affects mothers and fathers, discusses cultural considerations around perinatal loss and provides resources to providers serving families dealing with loss.
Recognize range of emotional reactions to perinatal loss in grieving parents
Describe how mothers and fathers grieve differently
Describe various strategies to support bereaved parents
Identify resources for bereaved parents
My Baby Would Be Better Off Without Me: Perinatal Mental Health & Suicide
Suicide is the leading cause of death during the perinatal period. In this course, Gabrielle Kaufman, MA, LPCC, BC-DMT, NCC, PMH-C, discusses statistics, risk factors, warning signs, screening tools, risk assessment, safety plans and other tools and resources to address suicide before and after childbirth. The course includes personal accounts and case studies of suicidal ideation and suicide.
Identify how feelings of suicide impact women in the perinatal period
Name risk factors and protective factors in relation to suicidality in the perinatal period
Describe the CS-RRS (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale) and other suicide screening tools and discuss ways they may be implemented
Health Care Professionals including therapists, clinical psychologists, social workers, community health workers, counselors, nurses (neonatal, labor and delivery, maternity, NICU), midwives, nurse practicioners, physicians (psychiatrists, OB/GYNs, pediatricians, neonatalogists, family practitioners, general practitioners, primary care physicians), lactation consultants, health educators, doulas & home visitors.
Cost & Registration:
Price: $40 each*
Once you have registered for a module:
Review the activity objectives and CME/CE information.
Materials provided: learning videos, additional readings, and resources
You will have access to the content and materials in the training for 12 months from your date of registration.
Complete the CME/CE activity. Complete the online posttest. A score of at least 75% is required to successfully complete this activity. You may take the test until successfully passed.
Complete the CME/CE evaluation/attestation form, which provides each participant with the opportunity to comment on how participating in the activity will affect their professional practice; the quality of the instructional process; the perception of enhanced professional effectiveness; the perception of commercial bias; and his/her views on future educational needs.
Then, your CME/CE certificate will be available for download.
*Partial scholarships will be available for those who qualify.
Continuing Education Accreditation & Credit:
CE's provided by:
Each course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, LEPs, and psychologists as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and California Board of Psychology. Wellnest is the sponsor of continuing education for this learning module and is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Wellnest as the sponsor maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
CME Credit:
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Maternal Mental Health NOW. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The California State Board of Registered Nursing accepts courses approved by the ACCME for Category 1 credit as meeting the educational requirements for license renewal.
Terms of Credit: CMEs will be available for these modules from September 2019 until August 2021.
Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest:
It is the policy of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center assesses conflict of interest with its faculty, planners and managers of CME activities. Conflicts of interest that are identified are resolved by reviewing that presenter's content for fair balance and absence of bias, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations.
While Cedars-Sinai Medical Center endeavors to review faculty content, it remains the obligation of each physician or other healthcare practitioner to determine the applicability or relevance of the information provided from this course in his or her own practice. In accordance with the policy of Cedars-Sinai, faculty are asked to disclose any affiliation or financial interest that may affect the content of their presentations. The planning members and faculty of these courses have no financial relationships that require disclosure.
Course Directors & Faculty:
Eynav Accortt, PhD (Eynav Accortt has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Eynav Accortt, Ph.D., is a California licensed clinical psychologist. Her areas of clinical focus include mood and anxiety disorders during the female reproductive life course and in response to chronic illnesses such as breast cancer. Currently, she maintains a private practice in Agoura Hills, approximately 25 miles Northwest of Los Angeles. Dr. Accortt is an assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she conducts research on the physiological processes that are associated with higher risk for depression and anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum. She is particularly interested in the association between maternal mental health, cardiovascular health and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Martha Escudero (Marta Escudero has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Martha Escudero is a mother, Perinatal Case Manager at Maternal & Child Health Access, Certified Mental Health Rehabilitation MHA, Lactation Educator UCSD, DONA birth doula, ICEA trained Childbirth Educator, and BS in Gender, Ethnicity & Multicultural Studies Cal Poly Pomona. Volunteered in food justice, mental health, women's reproductive health, and prisoner advocacy work.
Siobhan Ford, LCSW (Siobhan Ford had no financial relationships to disclose.)
Siobhan Ford, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who works for Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Kiley Hanish, OTD, OTR/L (Kiley Hanish has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Kiley is a bereaved mother and founder of Return to Zero: H.O.P.E. (formerly Return to Zero Center for Healing). She received her BA from Loyola Marymount University, and masters and doctoral degrees in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California. Kiley and her husband Sean are creators of the Emmy-nominated film Return to Zero, which is based on their personal experience of their son Norbert, who was stillborn. Her work with bereaved families helps them to find purpose, meaning, and healing after the tragic death of their baby.
Kiley and Sean live in Los Angeles with their two children, Roxie and Cannon. Kiley is available for speaking engagements as well as care provider trainings.
Gabrielle Kaufman, MA, LPCC, BC-DMT, NCC, PMH-C (Gabrielle Kaufman has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Gabrielle Kaufman is a dance/movement therapist and licensed professional clinical counselor with over 20 years experience in the helping profession. Currently, she is director of Training and Technical Assistance for Maternal Mental Health NOW. Prior to this, she served as director of the New Moms Connect Program of Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles. She served as Los Angeles coordinator for Postpartum Support International and has a private practice in Los Angeles providing services in both English and Spanish languages.
Ivy Love Margulies, PsyD (Ivy Margulies has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Dr. Ivy Margulies is a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles specializing in grief, trauma, suicide, young widows, reproductive and maternal mental health, including postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, reproductive challenges, high risk pregnancy, infertility, miscarriage, pre-term labor, termination for fetal anomoly (or any reason), NICU, stillbirth and infant death. Dr. Ivy has Medical Staff Priviledges at Providence Saint John's Hospital. In addition to Dr. Margulies' clinical practice, she is a reiki healer, funeral director, and a death midwife. She is the founder of Angels Born Still, offering bereaved mothers and grieving families a place for grief support, trauma support, education and normalization of the grieving process. Dr. Ivy incorporates significant healing approaches which complement the grief therapy so that emotional integration of the grief and trauma after a pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and/or traumatic birth can be possible. Dr. Margulies is a member of the Los Angeles County Perinatal Mental Health Task Force, renamed Maternal Mental Health NOW, and is recognized as a specialist in grief, trauma, pregnancy loss, and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.
John Ozimek, DO (John Ozimek has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Director, Labor and Delivery and Maternal-Fetal Care Unit at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. His specialty areas include complications in pregnancy including genetic testing, high risk pregnancy, maternal complications and multiple gestations. He attended Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine and did his residence at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.
Sarah Randall, PhD (Sarah Randal has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Psychologist at Calabasas Behavioral Health was former faculty at Pepperdine University. She specializes in perinatal mental health, PTSD, mood and anxiety disorders and women's health.
Ellen Rothman, MD (Ellen Rothman has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Ellen Rothman, M.D. oversees the delivery of clinical services and works alongside the executive team to develop dynamic new programs. She brings a deep commitment to improving the health of the residents of South Los Angeles. Dr. Rothman has spent her career working with underserved communities both in South Los Angeles and on the Navajo Nation during her six years spent with the Indian Health Service. Dr. Rothman completed her medical training at Harvard and her Pediatric Residency at the Boston Children's Hospital.
Camilo Zaks, MD (Camilo Zaks has no financial relationships to disclose.)
Dr. Camilo Zaks is a family medicine doctor and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including California Hospital Medical Center and Keck Medical Center of USC. He received his medical degree from Keck School of Medicine of USC and has been in practice between 11-20 years.