From Surviving to Thriving: Your Role as a Peer Mentor Awaits!
Support. Connection. Healing.
Did you struggle with your transition to parenthood? You may be an excellent candidate to reassure and support another birthing person going through a similar experience!
Express your interest today:
Email Maddie
PSVa Peer Mentor Program Coordinator
mburns@postpartumva.org
Peer Mentor Program FAQs
Mentors benefit from the integration of their own experiences with mental health challenges and other lived experiences into impactful engagement with perinatal families across Virginia. 1:1 social support benefits both the mentee and mentor’s sense of community and well-being.
Mentors must have felt better or have recovered from a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMAD) at least 9 months ago. Mentors complete PSVa’s Volunteer Application, Social Support Training, and Peer Mentor Orientation before being matched with a mentee with similar lived experiences. Through professional development and regular Chat & Chew engagement opportunities, volunteers are supported before and during their time with PSVa.
After being trained and paired with a mentee, the time commitment is roughly one hour per week during the first half of the mentorship, with support and time commitment faded gradually starting around halfway through the mentorship (3 months).
Peer mentorship reduces mentees’ level of distress by pairing them with mentors who can provide support and encouragement. Mentors share coping strategies and resources, as well as validate mentees’ experiences and feelings. Mentees report a decrease in PMAD symptoms after participation in the program. Peer support for perinatal people in the program leads to increased satisfaction with parenthood and better health advancement, including mentees identifying and continuing with therapeutic support.
Kamisha found herself four months pregnant when the pandemic started. She experienced perinatal anxiety and depression. She credits her help and support to the ladies she met through PSVa's Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies - A Support Group for Women of Color. Kamisha's passion has always been to serve others, and since becoming a mother, she enjoys dedicating her time to helping other birthing people. She currently lives in Prince George's County with her husband, 2 sons, and step daughter.
Grateful for PSVa's in-person services as a former client, Maddie became a volunteer and witnessed the healing power of peer support in her roles as a Peer Mentor and Support Group Facilitator. Now, as a staff member, she is excited about the opportunity to connect PSVa's passionate volunteers to birthing people across the state for mentorship. When not dancing or singing with her daughters, she's exploring new sports, writing, and catching up with good friends. A Richmond native, having lived in Philly, France, and Washington, DC, Maddie is now rooted in Northern Virginia.
Our Volunteer Manager, Kamisha, explains the program and how to become a mentor!
Social Support Training
Don’t worry, we’ll get you Social Support Training and Peer Mentor Orientation to prepare you for your new role.
Please view our upcoming trainings.
Ready to Mentor? Or want to consider the possibility?
Email Maddie
PSVa Peer Mentor Program Coordinator
mburns@postpartumva.org