PARENT RESILIENCE PROGRAM
Parent Resilience Program (PERC)
Some people find Perinatal Support Washington (PS-WA) after hours googling how parenthood is “supposed” to feel, others arrive having reviewed a pamphlet on “Perinatal Depression” at the pediatricians. However you arrive and whatever direction you want to go, our Parent Resilience Program “PERC” is here for you.
Everyone and every pregnancy is a different journey. At PERC we know that your emotional wellness experiences will be different and unique. For this reason, we would like to offer SUPPORT in an equally varied and personalized delivery. We are here to support YOU and YOUR wellness goals.
Our Parent Resilience Program is staffed and designed by PEERs because we also know that mental health therapy is one option, but it’s not the only one and there are many paths to wellness.
Our Parent Resilience Program (PERC) is unique in a few significant ways:
What the Parent Resilience Program “PERC” does:
- Parent Resilience Specialists (PRS) meet throughout the week via phone, text, and video while social distancing is still recommended by public health. In-person meetings will resume this summer.
- PRS' provide the support you need and want, wellness planning, connecting you to resources and referrals, and more.
- PRS' can work with families for as many weeks or months as your desires change. We’re here to help you to move along on your wellness journey.
Who PERC serves:
Pregnant people and new parents who are at risk of, or currently experiencing, mental health concerns related to childbearing
Some examples could include anxiety, sadness or grief around unexpected parenting/birth outcomes, depression, sleeplessness, scary or intrusive thoughts.- People who have experienced a loss, terminated a pregnancy, or had other unexpected childbirth outcomes
- Parents who are not currently parenting due to loss, removal, etc. are welcome in this program if they are experiencing perinatal mental health concerns
- King County residents
- People who not identify as parents but have experienced a mental health challenge related to reproduction/childbearing
Who PERC does NOT serve:
- Parents/participants outside of King County
- Parents with Substance Use Disorders who are not currently engaged in recovery services
- Parents who are currently, or have recently experienced, a mental health crisis resulting in hospitalization and are not actively engaged in mental health services
- Parents whose primary mental health concern is not related to childbearing/conception/loss
Does this program sound like the right fit for you?
“I hope all your future participants feel the support you have given me”
-PERC Participant
To access any of our programs please call our Warm Line or request a call back.
1-888-404-7763
* se habla español
warmline@perinatalsupport.org
Meet our Parent Resiliance Specialist Team:
Elizabeth Moore Simpson, LSWAIC, PERC Program Manager
Elizabeth Moore Simpson, LSWAIC, PERC Program Manager
is a mother of one and also identifies as a bereaved parent. She has worked with new families for over ten years before coming to PS-WA. She has dedicated her career to the work of ending health and economic disparities for communities furthest away from opportunity. Through an infant-early childhood mental and maternal health lens Elizabeth has practiced as a doula, restorative justice circle keeper, child and family therapist, and community organizer for racial and economic justice.
Additionally, Elizabeth is an Ethnic Minority Specialist with specific training, experience, and connection with the urban native community in the unceded tribal land known as ‘Seattle’. These are commitments that extend beyond her professional career as a social worker and are integral to how she views her responsibility to those whose land she resides on.
Elizabeth was raised in Seattle, and spends her (fleeting) spare time with her partner teaching their little one to fight the power!
Elizabeth.MooreSimpson (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Jazmin Rico Diaz, Parent Resilience Specialist
Jazmin Rico Diaz, Parent Resilience Specialist
Jazmin Rico Diaz (Parent Resilience Specialist) was born in Mexico City and grew up between Seattle and South California. She is the mother of two boys and the survivor of a pregnancy loss and two emergency C-Sections. She is driven by her experience and resilience to support others.
Jazmin has her BA in Psychology and went to school to become a Mental Health Therapist, but parenthood changed her path. As she was going to school she was also working in various roles supporting families. Jazmin is bi-lingual and has always loved volunteering as a parent coordinator, supporting minorities and non-English speakers. Having worked in the medical field: from being a receptionist for the medical and behavioral health department as well as an Executive Assistant, Behavioral Technician, working with kiddos on the spectrum, Jazmin has a passion to support parents. After reflecting and looking into her experience with trauma, pregnancy, loss, postpartum, and going through it alone, Jazmin's passion led her to PS-WA. "I felt that I belonged and being a part of the PERC program makes me feel that I'm home. Doing what I once needed someone to do for me - to be there."
Clysta Cole, Parent Resilience Specialist
Clysta Cole, Parent Resilience Specialist
Clysta is YuPik/Adopted Crow, she is a mother of 6 and proud to be one of the first ever Parent Resilience Specialists to join Perinatal Support Washington. Clysta joined the team with a background of life experiences of continued trauma from childhood trauma, furthering trauma experiences, and is a Domestic Violence survivor. She is an advocate for reducing trauma with a passion for peer support. She is trained as a full spectrum Indigenous Doula, Certified Peer Counselor, a 2020-2021 Native Action Network Leadership Cohort Graduate and Alumni.. She volunteers her time in her community including being the first Aunty with United Indians of All Tribe's Ina Maka Family Program.
She understands the importance of being supported and feeling supported in all aspects of our lives, especially during the perinatal period. With the knowledge she gained from the combination of life experience, navigating mental health care, and her individual journey through finding her foundation in healing, she knows that we need to have more support in our communities, especially for our mothers in the early stages of their journey. She is a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child, she also knows that it takes a village to support our parents.
Clysta has personal experience with singular pregnancies, pregnancy of multiples, high risk pregnancies, anxiety and trauma in pregnancies, pregnancy loss. She knows what it feels like to be alone in some of the most challenging and important events in our lives. She is available to support anyone without judgement, weather it be a high risk pregnancy, pregnancy of multiples, feeling the need to decide what decision to make in your pregnancy, abortion, adoption, not sure what to do, in recovery, or if you are experiencing child removal. Clysta will hold space for YOU Where you are with hopes to ensure our communities have the support they need while holding space for individual growth, our communities deserve to be held where they are, and she knows how difficult it can be to reach out for support. Clysta has been surviving the homicide of her 19 year old son since 12/09/2018, this pushed her to strengthen the need for support in our communities, and address Trauma awareness as intergenerational trauma is closely related to what lead to her son’s homicide. She loves supporting parents where they are, and holding space to have honest conversations that society might deem unacceptable. Her story of her first pregnancy as a teen mom can be read on our blog at: click link
Some of her favorite coping strategies are looking back at where she once was compared to where she is when she is insecure about not being where she wants to be, breathing and being in the moment when anxiety gets to be too much, and knowing she is not perfect none of us are, we know what we know until we learn what we need in order for us to grow from where we are.
Latonia Westerfield, Parent Resilience Specialist
Latonia Westerfield, Parent Resilience Specialist
Latonia supports pregnant and parenting families as a Parent Resilience Specialist and serves as an encouraging resource and witness for parents navigating the mental health landscape during the perinatal period. Latonia has spent the last 6 year advocating for families, attending births, and providing compassionate care as a birth doula and student midwife. She graduated from Birthwise Midwifery School in June 2021.
Prior to beginning birth work, Latonia studied maternal and infant morbidity and mortality as an undergrad and social-cultural anthropology major at University of Washington until she graduated in 2011. In all of her work and roles, Latonia uses the framework and lens of reproductive justice, equity, inclusivity, and radical rest politics to critically examine and dismantle structural and systemic inequality and oppression. Latonia is a mother of five and has personally navigated PMADs as a solo parent. Like so many others, she has experienced personal and professional loss, which allows her to offer families a variety of support tools and skills to help them along their wellness journeys. Latonia lives with her five vibrant daughters in South Seattle, where lots of dance parties take place in the kitchen while cookies are baking. She looks forward to the springtime when she can spend countless hours nourishing her soul in the garden with her hands in the warm earth. In the meantime, she enjoys binge listening to podcasts that center black femme narratives.
Parent Resources and Handouts
County Resources & Referrals
Due to COVID-19 many of of the support groups below are either not meeting, or are meeting virtually. Please visit our Virtual Support Groups Handout below for all the details.
