Dear Senators Spilka, Lovely, Rosenberg and Representative Story,

I am writing to urge you to support MCPAP for Moms and to ask you to earmark $3.6 million on line item 5042-5000, for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP)  - (DMH) Line Item #5042-5000.

Without this, MCPAP for Moms may not be funded. This is a new program that is bringing critical help to mothers and their children across the state. The research is clear that depression during pregnancy and after delivery is very detrimental to mother and baby bonding and often results in cognitive and emotional harm to the infant that can be life-long in its impact. Most cases of postnatal depression are preceded by depression during pregnancy. This program began in 2014 and has had enormous success thus far. It is critical that the Department of Mental Health (DMH) continue to fund it, and the $3.6 million appropriation for McPAP will ensure that is done. 

I want to thank Rep. Story, chair of the MA Postpartum Depression Committee and Senator Lovely for their leadership on the MA PPD Commission and support of MCPAP for Moms.

Senator Spilka, we urge you to support this increase in the budget to fund MCPAP for Moms. Senator Rosenberg, we request that you do everything in your power to ensure that this program is fully funded. If it is not, not only will mothers suffer, but their babies will as well.

Thank you for your support.