This offering will be available June 3, 2023 - December 31, 2023.

This is a recording of our Legal and Ethical Dilemmas in Perinatal Mental Health Conference held on Friday, May 12, 2023.

Reproductive access and choice deeply impact mental health. Individuals who experience reproductive oppression, such as those living in states where abortion is illegal as well as families impacted by the criminal justice and/or child welfare systems, are at a higher risk of experiencing perinatal mental health challenges.

Reproductive justice (RJ) is a social justice movement initiated in 1994 by many Black midwives, public health, and community activists, including Loretta J. Ross, Dr. Dázon Dixon Diallo, and Dr. Toni Bond. The movement emphasizes that all reproductive bodies deserve access to the care and resources to support their reproductive needs such as family planning, contraception, prenatal and postpartum care, paid family leave, and abortion. In addition to the right to choose to conceive, carry, or release a pregnancy, RJ entails the right to have and raise a baby in a safe and affirmative environment with dignity and respect.

This 6 hour continuing education offering will dive into the legal and ethical dilemmas related to reproductive justice that providers of perinatal mental health care often confront in 2023. Through a trauma-informed lens, we will discuss the implications of social and political factors on birthing people and their mental health. Presentations will include an exploration of clinical documentation and legal mandates, considerations for supporting pregnant and postpartum people experiencing incarceration, and the mental health impact of the overturn of Roe vs. Wade.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the origins of reproductive justice and its four major tenets;
2. Explain 3 ways this praxis-oriented approach (reproductive justice) is beneficial for both practitioners and clients;
3. Describe 3 ways legislative advocacy can benefit families affected by incarceration;
4. Identify 2 benefits of doula care and lactation support for pregnant and postpartum communities experiencing incarceration;
5. Discuss the unique reproductive health needs of incarcerated pregnant and postpartum people and the importance of removing barriers to appropriate care;
6. Identify current legislation and advocacy efforts surrounding the rights of incarcerated pregnant and postpartum individuals and ways clinicians and healthcare providers can contribute to efforts;
7. Identify 2 ways to support clients in knowing their reproductive health rights and accessing care and education;
8. Construct accurate clinical documentation in consideration of client privacy without compromising insurance requirements related to medical necessity;
9. Revise informed consent practices to ensure client comprehension about reproductive disclosures in the context of the socio-political climate and possible changing legislation locally and nationwide;
10.Identify at least 3 vulnerable populations at elevated risk for the criminalization of pregnancy and name their barriers to accessing necessary reproductive care;
11. Assess evolving mandated reporting requirements as they apply to reproductive disclosures in psychotherapy.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

This conference meets criteria for 6 continuing education credits for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, LEPs, and psychologists qualify for APA sponsored CE credit through the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) in the state of CA.

Community Partners FBO Maternal Mental Health NOW is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Community Partners FBO Maternal Mental Health NOW maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

This program is being offered in accordance with the standards and criteria set forth by the American Psychological Association (APA) for standard 1.2 programming covering legal and ethical guidelines that impact psychological practice. Continuing education requirements vary from state to state, including law and ethics CE requirements. It is the registrant’s sole responsibility to check with their licensing board directly to confirm if these CE credits will be approved.

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas in Perinatal Mental Health Conference: Reproductive Justice is approved by Postpartum Support International (PSI) as a PMH-C CE renewal course.

** If you hold a license not listed here or are licensed outside of the state of California, please check with your licensing board directly to confirm that these CE credits will be accepted. We are unable to assist in verifying if CE credits will be approved for your license type/state outside of California.

CMEs are not provided for this activity.
CEs for Nurses are not provided for this activity.

2023 Conference Brochure (agenda + speakers):
https://www.maternalmentalhealthnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MMHN-LEConf-2023-brochure-13.pdf