You don't have to figure this out on your own. Our Warm Line was started by parents who never wanted another parent to feel alone and not know what to do. We can help make a plan, find resources, share our stories, and just listen.
Our Warm Line offers free telephone support for all parents and their family members. The line is staffed by parents who have experienced a perinatal mood and/or anxiety disorder and have recovered fully or professionals with specialized training in perinatal mental health.
We provide warm, understanding, effective and private peer support. We also provide professional referrals and information about other resources in your community. Call or text today, 1-888-404-7763 or request a call back. Interpreters provided.
The Warm Line offers peer & professional support. Call or text today.
1-888-404-7763
** se habla español
You are not alone. Relief can begin with a simple phone call.
Start now by calling the Warm Line at 1-888-404-7763. Our trained staff and parent volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly. Text and email available too (warmline (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org). Interpreters provided. The Warm Line is answered live 9-4:30 Monday-Friday. On evenings and weekends please leave a message and we will return your call within 1-12 hours.
Support for the whole family: Partners, Dads, & Moms
NEW DAD?
Talk to another dad about your mental health needs during this period as well as gather information about supporting your partner who might be experiencing their own mood or anxiety disorder. Ask to talk to a dad when you call the line.
SUPPORT FOR PARTNERS!
We are experienced in serving same sex partners and LGBTQIA+ families. Call and ask for a parent or professional from the LGBTQIA+ community.
WARM LINE TEAM
Victoria Cherniak, Senior Warm Line Program Manager
Victoria Cherniak (she/her), MSW, Senior Warm Line Program Manager
Victoria, a mom of 2, is passionate about peer support and access to perinatal mental health due to the upheaval of her birth trauma and postpartum anxiety which a year later caused a happy upheaval in her professional life that lead to a 9 year stint as a postpartum doula and ultimately to PS-WA in 2018, where she loves supporting Warm Line staff, interns and volunteers. Victoria became a social worker due to her love of being in and creating community, particularly as a change agent. In 1999, she received her MSW from the University of Michigan, specializing in practice with communities and social systems.
Victoria has been a volunteer facilitator of the Queer and Trans Parent Support group with Postpartum Support International since 2020. Since 2021, she has been a member of Postpartum Support International’s Best Practices Committee for Perinatal Mental Health Equity. She has presented on topics around peer support in the perinatal space and serving LGBTQIA+ parents and was previously a board member of NAPS Doulas.
Victoria worked as a social worker and program manager before her work in the perinatal world. She provided public education and led policy work in Washington state focused on consumer justice issues. She also 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.
Victoria lives in Seattle with her dog, 2 cats, teen and her oldest who has recently flown the coop to chase her dreams of becoming a nurse. Victoria enjoys spending time with family and friends especially when good food is involved, she loves karaoke, singing at the top of her lungs, and has dreams of being in a choir.
Victoria.Cherniak (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
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.
Melissa Burden, Warm Line Volunteer Supervisor
Melissa Burden (she/her), Warm Line Volunteer Supervisor
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
Nathan Friend, Warm Line Dad Specialist
Nathan Friend (he/him), Warm Line Dad Specialist
Nathan Friend is the Dad Specialist for the PSWA Warm Line. Since 2022, he has helped dads and partners to navigate the struggles of new parenthood through peer support and resource sharing. Leaning on his personal lived experience with pregnancy loss, traumatic birth, and postpartum depression, Nathan brings authenticity, curiosity, and care to his work with fellow dads. He facilitates a vibrant weekly Dads Support Group, bringing new dads from across Washington State together to build community and to share the challenges of parenting. A compassionate listener who loves cloudy days and any kind of movement, Nathan and his wife raise their three young children in a lively multi-generational, multicultural household.
nathan.friend (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Aida Juarez, 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
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
Emily McKinley, Peer Support Specialist Supporting Perinatal Loss Families
Emily McKinley, MSW, LICSWA (she/they), Peer Support Specialist Supporting Perinatal Loss Families
Emily comes to this work with deep compassion, humility, and a belief that grief is not something to be fixed or overcome, but a natural expression of love that deserves witness, care, and community.
Emily first joined PS-WA as a Master of Social Work intern and later served as a Warm Line Specialist, supporting families experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, reproductive loss, grief, and the many emotional transitions of pregnancy and early parenthood.
Emily is an artist, community organizer, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker Associate (LICSWA), and death, grief, and loss doula. She has spent several years accompanying individuals and families through serious illness, dying, bereavement, and other profound life transitions. She has facilitated grief support groups and community conversations that foster connection, reduce isolation, and create spaces where people can bring the fullness of their grief.
Drawing from both professional training and personal experiences with fertility challenges and perinatal loss, Emily brings a relationship-centered approach to her work that is informed by somatic and nature-based perspectives. She recognizes that grief is experienced not only in our hearts and minds, but also in our bodies, our relationships, and our connection with the natural world. She believes grief and love are inseparable-that we grieve because we love. No one should have to carry grief alone, and she is honored to accompany parents as they navigate loss while continuing to honor the love they carry.
emily (dot) mckinley (at) perinatalsupport.org
Kelli Mae Willis, Warm Line Program Coordinator
Kelli Mae Willis, Warm Line Program Coordinator
Katie Hallberg, MSW Warm Line Intern
Katie Hallberg, MSW Warm Line Intern
Katie Hallberg is a Master of Social Work student, Warm Line Intern, and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-300). She is a mother of three young adult children and brings both professional training and lived experience to her work. Katie has personal experience with postpartum depression, supporting children through mental health diagnoses, and parenting a transgender child. In addition to her social work training, her 300-hour yoga education and teaching experience inform her grounded, trauma-aware, and body-based approach to emotional regulation, stress, and resilience. Katie is committed to creating a supportive, affirming, and nonjudgmental space where individuals feel heard, respected, and less alone as they navigate perinatal mental health and parenting.
Shanda Rae, MSW Warm Line Intern
Shanda Rae, MSW Warm Line Intern
Hello! My name is Shanda. I am an MSW intern with the University of Denver working for the PS-WA Warm Line. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with and provide the level of care and compassion that PS-WA offers to pregnant and postpartum people and their families as they experience new parenthood. I have four children, and for me, pregnancy and early motherhood was speckled with times of joy among some really hard moments of anxiety and deep darkness. I understand what it is like to navigate the highs and lows of becoming a new mother. In my spare time I enjoy relaxing with my kids who are all growing into incredible people and taking walks in our beautiful PNW nature.
Erin George-Park, BSW Warm Line Intern
Erin George-Park (she/her), BSW Warm Line Intern
Erin George-Park is a 4th-year Bachelor of Social Work student coming to us after welcoming her first child in 2025. Her passion for serving new parents predates her own birth experience. She spent years as a labor and delivery technician and provided bereavement support at the University of Utah. Her transition from medicine to social work happened gradually, rooted in the perinatal field, where she worked as a birth doula providing affordable, accessible care to Utah's LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.
Outside of her studies, Erin is a strong advocate for access to care, maternal health, and community building. She has attended lobby days with Pro-Choice Washington, hosted community groups, and partners with The Wild Womb to share educational content about the perinatal period on social media.
At home, Erin finds joy in crocheting, painting, and digital media. She loves moving her body through yoga or a long walk, adventuring outdoors, and cuddling with her two dogs, Wilson and Stanley. She is married to her absolute best friend, and her own postpartum experiences have deepened her understanding of how vital community and relationships are to postpartum resilience. As a peer, she hopes to be a part of your community and support you in your postpartum journey.
Brittany Roberson, MSW Warm Line Intern
Brittany Roberson, (she/her), Warm Line MSW Intern
Brittany Roberson is an MSW student at the University of Montana and is excited to join Perinatal Support Washington as a Warm Line intern. As a mom of two, Brittany knows firsthand how challenging the perinatal and postpartum periods can be, especially while advocating for yourself and your family, caring for your own needs, and navigating the expectations placed on mothers. She feels that the Warm Line found her at a meaningful point in her journey, offering an opportunity not only to support mothers and families facing their own hardships, but also to bring purpose to her experiences with high-risk pregnancies and difficult choices that ultimately shaped the way she sees and interacts with the world. In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time with her kids, skiing, hiking, and learning about anything related to astrology and the cosmos.
Linnea Carlson, MSW Warm Line Intern
Linnea Carlson, MSW Warm Line Intern
Linnea is a mom of one toddler and a first year MSW student at the University of Washington School of Social Work evening program. During the day, she works helping colleagues at Amazon learn about how to build accessible technology for customers with disabilities and/or who use assistive technology (e.g. screen readers). During her free time she is doing anything 'toddler', relaxing with her husband and friends, and studying for school.
Linnea's professional and personal focus is to help people understand themselves better so that they can be their best selves. She enjoys difficult conversations, finding the root cause of an issue, focusing on the human side of all things and being that emotional support. I am a perinatal intern because I know how challenging and new this stage of life can be - for everyone involved. I struggled with infertility for four years before conception, which took many drugs and 10 IUI and IVF attempts. In postpartum, I struggled with the hormonal and identity changes and the medical issues my son had. I was fortunate to have a community supporting me and I want to provide that for other parents. Having someone to reach out to who understands this time period and can provide resources and support is vital to staying sane. I feel privileged to be able to provide that for families
You can download our Warm Line outreach flyers
using the buttons below.
Our materials are not available to be shipped at this time.
Warm Line Postcard 5x7-English
Warm Line Postcard 5x7-Spanish
Warm Line Flyer 8.5x11-English
Warm Line Flyer 8.5x11-Spanish
Warm Line Postcards and Flyers are also available for download in 28 languages!
Warm Line Postcard 5x7 - Chinese
Warm Line Flyer 8.5x11 -
Chinese
Warm Line Postcard 5x7 - Russian
Warm Line Flyer 8.5x11 -
Russian
Click below to open a downloadable PDF
Warm Line Overview Video
"I wish someone had told me what to expect. I wish someone had talked about what they went through, or directed me toward finding out what other women went through, so that I didn't feel so utterly crazy."
- Tyrese L. Coleman
Brittany Roberson, (she/her), Warm Line MSW Intern
Brittany Roberson is an MSW student at the University of Montana and is excited to join Perinatal Support Washington as a Warm Line intern. As a mom of two, Brittany knows firsthand how challenging the perinatal and postpartum periods can be, especially while advocating for yourself and your family, caring for your own needs, and navigating the expectations placed on mothers. She feels that the Warm Line found her at a meaningful point in her journey, offering an opportunity not only to support mothers and families facing their own hardships, but also to bring purpose to her experiences with high-risk pregnancies and difficult choices that ultimately shaped the way she sees and interacts with the world. In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time with her kids, skiing, hiking, and learning about anything related to astrology and the cosmos.