ABOUT US
Supporting Washington Care Providers & Families Since 1989.
Perinatal Support Washington (PS-WA) is a statewide non-profit committed to shining a light on perinatal mental health to support all families and communities. We support people in the emotional transition to parenthood, including those experiencing depression, anxiety, loss, infertility, trauma, and more. Find out what's new at Perinatal Support Washington.
Our toll-free telephone support line, the "Warm Line", has been operating since 1991, providing peer support to parents in need. We also offer mental health therapy, free and low-cost new parent support groups, culturally-matched peer support in King County, training and consultation for health care providers, and education and advocacy. We do all of this with the help of our dedicated staff, board members, and dozens of volunteers.
While we are based in the Seattle metro area, our support resources are found all over our beautiful state of Washington. Check out our directory to search for resources in your area, or learn more about opportunities for collaboration in your community, or become a professional member of Perinatal Support WA. Perinatal Support WA is proud to manage the WA Postpartum Support International State Chapter.
Learn more about our work by viewing our Theory of Change and 2025 Strategic Plan Dashboard.
OUR TEAM
Emma York-Jones, Executive Director
Emma York-Jones (she/her), Executive Director
Emma York-Jones is a passionate leader in social services dedicated to empowering individuals and fostering thriving communities. With over 19 years of experience, she possesses a unique blend of strategic vision and operational expertise, honed through years of successfully developing and implementing impactful programs, primarily for vulnerable youth. From building strong community partnerships to translating data into actionable insights, Emma excels at driving sustainable growth and delivering high-quality services. Her diverse experiences, from her roots in North Carolina to her service as a Health Educator in Tanzania with the Peace Corps, have instilled in her a global perspective and a deep understanding of the human condition.
Emma is passionate about increasing awareness of perinatal mental health services. She understands firsthand the isolating and overwhelming experiences new parents encounter and firmly believes that accessible and supportive resources are crucial for parental well-being and child development. She envisions a future where every parent feels seen, heard, and supported, allowing them to thrive and nurture the next generation. By fostering awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding perinatal mental health, families can flourish and children can reach their full potential.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys exploring the world with her wife and two sons, whether it's hiking in national parks, cheering at a baseball game, or supporting their favorite women's soccer team. She is an active member of her community, dedicating her time to coaching youth sports and leading a Cub Scout pack.
Emma.YorkJones (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Danielle Yamamoto, Interim Operations Director
Danielle Yamamoto, MSW, Interim Operations Director (she/her)
Danielle joined Perinatal Support Washington in 2020. At the time was the fourth staff member and was the first person to answer live on the Warm Line. Her role has changed significantly over the years and she now serves as the Interim Operations Director. She is passionate about serving her community and is proud to be a part of such a dedicated and mighty team of caring people.
In her free time Danielle enjoys spending time with her dog, Annabelle, binging shows on Netflix and going out to eat.
Danielle.Yamamoto (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Victoria Cherniak, Senior Warm Line Program Manager
Victoria Cherniak (she/her), Senior Warm Line Program Manager
In addition to her work with PS-WA, Victoria is a postpartum doula supporting families as they navigate the new and ever-shifting landscape of parenthood and has been a long time board member of NAPS Doulas.
Victoria worked as a social worker before her work in the postpartum world. Her positions included the Economic Justice Project at Columbia Legal Services doing public education and policy work in Olympia focused on consumer justice issues and at the King County Bar Association, she managed two pro bono programs that served the legal needs of immigrants and people experiencing homelessness. In 2007 she received the Golden Door Award from Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) for her work with the Newcomers Resource Project which trained volunteer attorneys to assist undocumented workers to recover wages employers intentionally withheld. In 1999 she received her MSW from the University of Michigan specializing in practice with communities and social systems.
Victoria lives in Seattle with her two children and dreams of summer when she can camp and backpack with her children.
Victoria.Cherniak (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Elizabeth Moore Simpson, PERC Program Manager
Elizabeth Moore Simpson (she/her), LICSW, PERC Program Manager
Is a parent of two and also identifies as a bereaved parent. Prior to joining PS-WA she had over ten years of experience working with growing families. With an infant-early childhood mental health (IECMH) and perinatal health focus, she has held roles as a full-spectrum doula, restorative justice circle keeper, child and family therapist, PMH therapist and community organizer.
Elizabeth practices as a perinatal therapist, abortion doula and is the program manager for PS-WA’s Parent Resilience Program. She enjoys bringing tarot and body-based awareness to her personal and professional practice. She is passionate about supporting families impacted by the child welfare system to sustain, develop and strengthen secure attachments with family and community and working upstream to challenge mandated reporting laws causing harm and distrust between families and providers.
Elizabeth enjoys improvising crafts with her kids and manifesting cozy fall days. She aspires to bring levity, integrity and realness to her work with colleagues and families and can often be found scouring thrift stores for costumes and craft supplies.
Elizabeth.MooreSimpson (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Kimiko Goldberg, Development & Communications Manager
Kimiko Goldberg, MPA, Development & Communications Manager (she/her)
Kimiko has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years in roles including Communications and Advocacy, with the bulk of her time spent specifically in Fundraising. As a mother who has experienced Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders herself, She is incredibly excited to join PS-WA's heroic team.
Kimiko earned her Masters of Public Administration from Evergreen State College, and prior to that majored in Social Sciences at UW. Unafraid to face the toughest challenges, she wants to bring more attention to maternal mental health issues which are critically underrepresented and underfunded in the US.
Kimiko is also a Fundraising Consultant who adheres to the Community-Centric Fundraising model which treats donors as partners and acts to end exploitative practices and outdated, inequitable fundraising models.
She lives in Seattle, and on her days off, you can find her spending time with her little one and diving into making candles, jewelry, and other things to share.
Kimiko.goldberg (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Karina Saunders, Community Outreach & Training Manager
Karina Saunders (she/her), Community Outreach & Training Manager
Karina loves people and creating spaces for connection and community-building. In both her nonprofit and higher education background, karina has advocated and created programming for bringing BIPOC students together and expanding support for people experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. In all her roles she has worked to center marginalized voices and create spaces for connection, learning, and reflection.
Karina is excited to join the PS-WA team as she navigates her own postpartum mental health journey. She is a strong advocate for the role peer support groups play in perinatal mental health and the bonus of long-term friendships that sometimes result. She's excited to join the inspiring all-star PS-WA team and support the expansion and defining of resources for people in the perinatal period. She plans to put her master's in education to work encouraging the budding perinatal support communities across Washington state.
Stephanie Valerdi, PERC Program Support Coordinator & Latinx Peer Support
Stephanie Valerdi (she/her/they/them), PERC Program Support Coordinator and Latinx Peer Support
Stephanie Valerdi identifies as a queer, Latinx, chronically ill, single parent of a child with special needs. Stephanie Valerdi has over 10 years of experience supporting families and parents in various roles with an emphasis on supporting families through a trauma-informed lens that acknowledges the oppressive systems in which we currently live.
Stephanie, along with lived experience, has received training in the mental health field and has provided compassionate support to parents addressing challenges in the birth-5 range. Stephanie has provided strengths-based, culturally matched support within the Latinx community and has worked to increase the quality and access to Spanish mental health and community services. Stephanie is DEIA co-chair at Perinatal Support Washington and has been an advocate for increasing equity, accessibility, and anti-racist practices in their work.
Stephanie has personal experience navigating the mental health systems as an immigrant and as a survivor of gender-based violence and is passionate about using their experience and skills to connect with other families. Stephanie hopes to provide a safe space to hold families/birthing people by honoring their experiences, and allowing them to connect and heal in ways that feel true to them.
Stephanie has supported families in our Parent Resilience Program as a peer to the Latinx/Spanish speaking community and now supports the program as Support Coordinator.
stephanie.valerdi (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
La Tonia Bussell-Packard, Peer Support Specialist
La Tonia Bussell-Packard (they/she), Parent Resilience Specialist, Traditional Midwife
La Tonia is a queer Black femme who supports pregnant and parenting families as a Parent Resilience Specialist in King County. They serve as an encouraging resource and witness for parents navigating the perinatal mental health landscape by using their firsthand experience as a parent who has lived with anxiety and depression. La Tonia knows firsthand the barriers that exist for Black and queer folx seeking support for their mental health. La Tonia has experienced personal and professional loss, which allows them to offer supportive tools and skills that are based on lived experience and shared community ways of ‘knowing’ and processing grief and loss.
La Tonia has spent the last 7+ years advocating for families, attending births, and providing compassionate care as a birth doula and student midwife. They graduated from midwifery school in June 2021 and now practice and attend births as a traditional midwife. In all their work, La Tonia centers Black, Indigenous, and QTPOC families in their role as a midwife, doula, and peer. They use the framework and lens of reproductive justice, the intersections of race, class, gender/sexuality, and ability, and radical rest politics when supporting families in their community.
Amy Menjivar, Peer Support Specialist
Amy Menjivar (she/her), Peer Support Specialist
Amy is a Queer, Latinx, mother of two children and PMAD’s survivor and Bilingual Spanish speaker. She comes from immigrant Salvadorian parents with unique experiences and perspectives. She has a passion to provide strong contributions to our society, with awareness of the use of stigmatizing language around mental illness. She has a background in Early Childhood Education and has worked with children for the past 9 years. She has supported King County Families and children of all ethnicities with special needs. She has worked mostly with Latino families as their family support specialist.
Amy is passionate about helping the community, engaging families and building community. After Amy experienced severe anxiety and postpartum depression, she has been determined to help parents who could be going through what she went through. She is committed to help immigrants in the community and teach families that there is someone here to listen to them and also to receive help.
Melissa Burden, Warm Line Program Specialist
Melissa Burden (she/her), Warm Line Program Specialist
Melissa supports Perinatal Support Washington as the Warm Line Program Specialist. She is a mother to one, and after experiencing a PMAD herself became a dedicated volunteer and patient advocate for those who are struggling through the perinatal experience. As the Warm Line Program specialist, she supports the volunteers who provide the warm support and helpful resources to parents who are struggling and need space to be held. She also answers on the Warm Line, aligning with her dedication to supporting parents. Additionally, she dedicates her time to volunteering as a facilitator of a peer-support group. She is trained in the GPS (Group Peer Support) model, and is going on 4 years of facilitating for the Village Circle (Bellingham, WA). Melissa resides in Bellingham, Washington and spends her spare time building Lego with her 4 year old, reading, and spending time with her family & friends.
melissa.burden (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Aida Juarez, Therapist & Warm Line Bilingual Specialist
Aida Juarez (she/her), Warm Line Bilingual Specialist
Aida coordinates our Spanish Warm Line, supporting our Spanish-speaking callers, developing culturally-relevant policies and procedures, and translating outreach materials. Aida joined PS-WA after attending a group peer support (GPS) training in Yakima.
For the past 20 years, Aida has been working with pregnant mothers, infants, and their families, providing brief counseling and referrals as a certified counselor and lactation specialist. She is the Social Services Department Manager at Tri-Cities Community Health, running the day-to-day operations of the department’s Maternity Support Services, WIC, Peer Counselor, and Outreach Programs.
Aida.Juarez (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Ada Figueroa, Warm Line Bilingual Specialist
Ada Figueroa (she/her) Warm Line Bilingual Specialist
Ada Figueroa is coming to us from her liaison position where she passionately advocated for language access and navigation of public education systems for Spanish speaking communities in Pierce County.
As a Latina mother of two having gone through the emotional stew of parenthood, she has supported Latinx mothers through the peer support group Caminemos Juntos. She has had the opportunity to serve disabled individuals as well as implement behavioral plans for children with Autism and related disorders.
She enjoys spending time with her family, going to festivals and traveling. She is also very passionate about herbology and reviving cultural herb practices for self healing.
Ada.Figueroa (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Stephanie Lewis, Parent Support and Warm Line Specialist
Stephanie Lewis, (she/her) Parent Support and Warm Line Specialist
My name is Stephanie Lewis and I am a wife , and mother to 3. I have served the African American/black community as a doula for 3 years and found my passion in supporting families as they transitioned into parenthood and the postpartum period. Shortly after attending births as a doula, I began to facilitate PEPs groups for black/african american families in my community and have a passion for holding space for families during this transitional time and offering support around resources, education and ways to pour into their wellness through parenting.
After having my last child, I had a challenging time with my mental health trying to adjust to being a mother of 3 and feeling isolated with lack of community. Over the years navigating my mental health and finding the tools and support I needed made all the difference for me. I want to be able to share and support others the way I wish I had support in such a rocky time. Being able to join PS-WA and hold space for families on the warm line and support them in finding the resources they need to create wellness for themselves is an honor.
I have a passion for learning and exploring holistic health and wellness and teach yoga in my community. I homeschool my 3 children and love being outdoors in nature whenever I can.
stephanie.lewis (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Nathan Friend, Warm Line Dad Specialist
Nathan Friend (he/him), Warm Line Dad Specialist
In his work on the Warm Line, Nathan Friend supports Dads and non-birthing partners to navigate the struggles of new parenthood. Nathan became passionate about perinatal mental health after his own challenges with pregnancy loss, traumatic births, and difficult newborn periods. A compassionate listener who loves cloudy days and any kind of movement, Nathan comes from white Southern farmers, Jewish butchers and three-generations of Seattlites. He lives in a vibrant multi-generational, multiracial, multilingual household with his spouse, three young children and rotating housemates.
nathan.friend (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Megan Sloan, Operations Coordinator
Megan Sloan (she/her), Operations Coordinator
Megan joined Perinatal Support Washington in 2023 as the Operations Coordinator. She has been a part of the Seattle birthing community for over ten years and has regularly recommended Perinatal Support Washington to her pregnant and postpartum students. As a pre/postnatal yoga teacher she was often surprised that she was the first point of contact for students looking for support and resources they couldn’t find elsewhere and as she watched students struggle in pregnancy and as new parents, she became passionate about providing people the positive resources they needed to navigate this challenging time. Her own direct experiences with conception and pregnancy as a queer family and her own struggles postpartum have made her passionate about normalizing the struggles of parenthood and facilitating the establishment of systems of support for new families.
In her free time Megan and her wife and their two kiddos try to spend as much time outdoors as possible whether its hiking, growing veggies in their garden or travelling locally and internationally to adventure as a family.
Megan.sloan (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Kay Hwang, Program Support Coordinator
Kay Hwang (she/her), Program Support Coordinator
Kay Hwang joined PS-WA in 2021 and provides program and operational support. She has worked in higher education for 12 years and finds it fulfilling to serve individuals, families and care providers in the perinatal professions since 2011.
Eager to play a role in advocating for mental health care and wellness, she is gratified to provide assistance and learn from other people’s diverse perspectives and experiences.
Kay studied economics at the University of Washington and resides in Seattle. She loves yoga, the changing seasons, exploring different cultures & cuisines, and cats.
kay.hwang (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Kelli Mae Willis, Program Support Coordinator
Kelli Mae Willis (she/her), Program Support Coordinator
Maiah Merino, PMH Imagine Grant Facilitator
Maiah Merino (she/her/ella), PMH Imagine Grant Facilitator
Maiah A Merino is Family Systems trained and began focusing her work clinically with little ones, when she became a Mental Health Facilitator within a HeadStart/Early Headstart Program at United Indians of all Tribes Foundation in Seattle, WA. Working with families supporting 0-5 growth and development for children and parents became a new passion for Maiah. Along with offering a Reflective, Narrative, Creative-Arts and Solution-Focused practice with over 25 years as a therapist, Maiah received advanced clinical training through PSI International in support of perinatal and postpartum birthers. Maiah understands and enjoys supporting birthers through this important time in their lives.
Maiah A Merino trabaja desde una perspectiva de Sistemas Familiares y comenzó a enfocar su trabajo clínicamente con los más pequeños, cuando comenzó a trabajar como Facilitadora de Salud Mental dentro de un Programa HeadStart/Early Headstart en la Fundación United Indians of All Tribes en Seattle, WA. Apoyar el crecimiento y desarrollo de niños de 0 a 5 años y de sus padres se convirtió en una nueva pasión para Maiah. Ofrece una práctica reflexiva, narrativa, de artes creativas y centrada en soluciones. Con más de 25 años como terapeuta, Maiah recibió capacitación clínica avanzada a través de PSI International en apoyo a los partos perinatales y posparto. Maiah comprende y disfruta apoyando a los nacimientos en este momento importante de sus vidas.
Emily Raabe, Therapist
Emily Raabe, LSWAIC, Therapist (she/her)
My name is Emily Raabe. I am a mother to a five and seven year old, and I am working with families through the transitions of parenthood. I received my Bachelor's of Arts (BA) in Psychology from San Francisco State University and then went on to receive my Master's in Social Work (MSW) with a mental health concentration from the University of Washington. I completed a practicum at Perinatal Support Washington focusing on the Warm Line where I offer support and resources to clients. I followed up with a practicum at Perinatal Support Washington as an intern therapist where I received training specifically in perinatal therapy.
I strive to be a source of support through early parenthood, a time where I personally could have benefited from more mental health support. My interests include perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, the challenges around feeding babies, relationships, birth trauma, infertility, grief and loss and young and/or first time moms.
I believe that support is crucial, and in our society, perinatal individuals don’t often get the support they need. I am passionate towards giving clients a supportive space where they can discuss their authentic experience within pregnancy and postpartum. Our culture serves us a picture of perinatal perfection but that wasn’t my reality and I am here to guide clients through their own perinatal experience. I focus on self care, mindful self compassion and coping strategies to give clients a space to develop skills that can help support them throughout parenthood.
In my free time I like cooking and eating delicious food, socializing and meeting new people, listening to podcasts and going on coffee and muffin dates with my kids.
Haley Brandenburg, Therapist
Haley Brandenburg, LICSWA (she/her)
My name is Haley Brandenburg. I hold an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Washington State University and a Masters degree in clinical Social Work from Walla Walla University. I have experience conducting therapy groups with children and adolescents within an educational setting.
OUR BOARD + VOLUNTEERS
.Perinatal Support Washington is a small but mighty statewide nonprofit and we are growing. We do a lot with very little - thanks to the help of our volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering or joining our Board of Directors. Contact us here.
Board openings include: Fundraising, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), HR, & more! Read more here.
Volunteer opportunities include: Warm Line Support, helping out at events, sharing your story, and more.
Sumi Garg, Board Chair
Maggie Meyers
Maggie Meyers works as Deputy Chief Communications Officer for the Washington State Charter Schools Association, a statewide nonprofit that supports a free, public, innovative options that meet the needs of systemically underserved students. A communicator by trade and at heart, Maggie is a fierce advocate for families who have been marginalized in and beyond our education systems. Maggie’s own experience becoming a mom and navigating the preconception to postpartum period fuels her deep belief in the importance of maternal mental health care, and to PS-WA she brings a commitment to increasing access to just, equitable, and quality care for all parents.
Maggie previously worked for a local, women-owned marketing firm, and as an NYC magazine coordinator, freelance editor, and writer for various magazines and children’s book publishers. Maggie earned her B.A. from Bowdoin College and holds a Master of Education in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Washington. Outside of work, Maggie is in the throes of early childhood parenting with her husband and enjoys chasing their two young sons around Seattle’s parks and playgrounds.
Stephiney Foley (she/her)
Stephiney Foley is the CEO and founder of Yuzi Care, a women’s health company dedicated to reimagining the postpartum experience in America. Her inspiration for creating Yuzi Care is deeply personal, stemming from her own experience with postpartum depression, which highlighted critical gaps in maternal care and recovery support for new mothers. Stephiney is also a DONA-certified postpartum doula, trained at Bastyr University, and brings her expertise in maternal care to every aspect of her work.
A West Point graduate and combat veteran, Stephiney served her country with distinction before transitioning to the private sector. She earned her MBA from Dartmouth College and built a successful career as a technical product leader at global companies, including Amazon, Tesla, and IDEO.
Stephiney lives in Seattle with her partner, two bi-racial children, and their 90-pound labradoodle, where she continues her mission to transform postpartum care for families nationwide.
Shantell Smith
My name is Shantell Smith, and I’m a contract coordinator for Astronics AES which is an aviation empower supply vendor. I’m a transplant to the Seattle area of 5 years originating from Memphis TN. My professional background includes experience in finance and social work. Before relocating to Seattle, I worked as a family support worker and liaison for Lebonheur Children’s Hospital in conjunction with the FedExfamilyhouse. That position allowed me the opportunity to develop a full spectrum view of what happens when childbirth does not go according to plan and the aftermath for the family. I have had my own experience with postpartum depression after my first child which did not come to surface level until she was about six months old and continued until after the birth of my third child. When the opportunity was presented by my dear sister and friend Dr. Chelsia Berry, I did not hesitate to raise my hand and get involved.
Outside of work, you can find me spending time with my three girls Kennedy 19, Madison 18, and Reagan 16. They keep me very busy with all their activities and sports. I enjoy traveling, reading, and my new hobby yardwork.
Sarah Kasch
Lara Effland
Lara Effland is highly respected in the mental health community, with extensive experience in treating adults with eating disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, and trauma. She is the Director of Adult Program Development at Equip, a virtual eating disorder treatment center that operates nationwide. Before joining Equip, she served as Regional Clinical Director at the Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center. There, she co-developed a program for mood and anxiety and played a key role in launching new treatment centers across the U.S.
In addition to her clinical work, in 2021, Lara founded the Clinician Development Collective. This organization focuses on mentoring mental health therapists and offering clinical supervision, consultation, and training.
Doug Lacy-Roberts
Doug served as President of Parent Support of Puget Sound (P.S.) for 4 years in the early 2000s and for 2.5 years from November 2021 until June 2024. He became a board member as a result of the recent merger of P.S. into Perinatal Support Washington.
After the loss of his son Cameron at birth in October 2000, Doug wanted to start a support group for parents who had also suffered a loss. Doug, his wife Karen, and Chaplain Luann McBride started a grief support group in Olympia in 2001. Soon thereafter, the Olympia support group became a P.S. support group and Doug became a P.S. board member. Later, Doug became P.S. President. During his first 4 years as President, P.S. became financially sound, grew significantly, and it increased its support group presence and its program offerings.
Karen and Doug also had four miscarriage losses, and Karen died on May 15, 2019, after a long struggle with breast cancer. Doug feels it is important to honor his five children (losses) and his wife. Each day, he thinks about them and they give him hope.
Doug is blessed by his daughter, Jadan. Karen and Doug adopted her from Panama in June 2005.
Doug is retired. He has benefited greatly from his association with P.S., as a support group participant and facilitator and as a leader. He looks forward to serving as a Perinatal Support Washington board member and working with its staff, management, and board to successfully implement the merger of these two fine organizations.
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDING PARTNERS:
