Serving Pierce County infants and the people who care for them.
Each committee is a network of perinatal professionals who aim to increase coordination of services for perinatal populations. Check our calendar for upcoming committee meetings and events.
Education
Works to promote and provide opportunities for learning. This committee plans events like:
- Monthly Lunch and Learn meetings.
- Annual conferences.
Want to get involved? Contact Jax Hermer.
First Steps (MSS/ICM)
Apple Health insures people with children under age one who are eligible for Maternity Support Services (MSS) and Infant Case Management (ICM) services. They tailor services to each person and family. This committee aims to:
- Engage with all families eligible for First Steps services through MSS and ICM provider collaboration.
- Provide direct referral sources for families in the perinatal and postpartum periods.
- Partner with other programs that provide support services.
- Educate on the importance of First Steps and its critical work.
Want to get involved? Contact Robyn Weibe.
Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Action Team
Supports mental health needs in the perinatal period and:
- Helps decrease the risk of child abuse and neglect.
- Designed and maintains the Pierce County Resource and Referral Guide.
- Trains professionals about:
- Best practices to identify, assess, and treatment Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD).
- Managing PMAD medications.
Perinatal emotional health resources
- Perinatal mental health disorders—Info about depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
- Perinatal Support Washington—Services for Pierce County residents and providers.
- Contact a perinatal therapist—Perinatal Support Washington.
Want to get involved? Contact Muriel Herrera-Velasquez.
Pierce County Breastfeeding Alliance
Promotes, supports and protects breastfeeding through education, outreach, and collaboration. We partner with the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington to increase breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity rates through promotional activities, education, and resources.
Breastfeeding resources
- Local resources.
- Resources for pregnant and breastfeeding women and families.
- Lactation break time and space in all industries.
- Breastfeeding support groups—La Leche League.
- World Breastfeeding Week.
- Black Breastfeeding Week.
Want to get involved? Contact Patricia Alva.
Safe Sleep
Promotes safe infant sleep practices to reduce the risk of Sleep-Related Infant Death (SIDS, SUID, or suffocation). This is the leading cause of death among babies 1–12 months of age. We provide free portable cribs to PCPC crib partner agencies who give them to clients who can’t afford a safe sleep space for their baby. Since 2012, we:
- Distributed more than 1,000 free cribs to Pierce County families in need.
- Raised more than $100,000 to support crib and crib sheet purchases.
- Provided annual safe sleep training to staff at all crib partner agencies to ensure they share up-to-date safety guidelines.
Safe Sleep resources
- Safe sleep for your baby—Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
- Tips for safe infant sleep—Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.
- Safe Start—Northwest Infant Survival and SIDS Alliance education programs.
If you participate in PCPC and want to become a crib partner, email Erin Summa.
Questions?
Contact us at pcofpcinfo@gmail.com.