Ensuring a legacy of health, one family at a time
-
Clients and Families Served
119,000
-
Professionals Educated
12,332
-
Food, Baby Essentials, Safety Items and Gift Cards Purchased
452,000
-
So you are pregnant or have a new baby! Now what? For many, expecting a baby or transitioning to the role of new parent can be overwhelming and even stressful. Often others ask how the baby is doing, but who asks about the person who gave birth to the baby? We do!
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) are defined as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during pregnancy and the postpartum period, often called the perinatal period. Birthing people with a history of depression or anxiety are more likely to have a PMAD. On the other hand, the perinatal period may be the first time that symptoms arise. Did you know that depression and/or anxiety affect 1 in 7 birthing people and up to 1 in 10 fathers and partners? Those statistics only include the people who ask for help when they are not feeling like themselves emotionally. Many more suffer in silence.
PMAD can have significant effects on the entire family. For this reason, New Jersey law requires that those who have just given birth be screened for postpartum depression (PPD) before leaving the hospital or birthing center. Screening is also required at the first few postpartum visits. Additionally, law requires that prospective and new parents (and their families if available) receive education on some of the signs of PPD and how to access help.
Through funding from the New Jersey Department of Health, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC) offers the Pregnancy & Postpartum Wellness Program in order to support birthing people who have concerns about how they are feeling emotionally during the perinatal period. We provide emotional support, information regarding support groups for new parents, and referral to counseling services if desired. All services are provided free of charge. (We do not, however, provide behavioral health counseling directly.) In short, we want to know “How are you REALLY doing?”
Self-referral is encouraged. A bilingual staff member is available for those who speak Spanish. Interpretation services for other languages is also available.
Please contact the Program Manager at (732) 937-5437 ext. 179 or PMAD@CJFHC.org with any questions.
Latest News & Events
Child abuse is preventable — and prevention begins long before harm or neglect ever happens. When communities are engaged and informed, prevention becomes a shared responsibility — not just a service, but a movement.
From pregnancy to early childhood, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium’s programs are designed to support families in care, guidance, and resources.
Turns out, even the smallest steps can have an impact. This Earth Day, consider your ecological footprint and enact these seven green ways to embrace today.
On April 3, 2025, Montclair State University hosted the annual Early Childhood Luminary Professional Conversation, honoring the remarkable Eve Robinson. Co-sponsored by leading early childhood organizations, the event recognized Eve with the Roots and Wings Award for her decades of contributions to early childhood education, advocacy, and child welfare. Interviewed by friend and colleague Lorri Sullivan, Eve’s heartfelt reflections illuminated how her Trenton upbringing shaped her unwavering commitment to community care and inclusion. Her story is a testament to the power of compassionate leadership and the legacy one person can leave behind.
Despite their age, children can have a powerful impact in the community, if only we encourage them to do so. Here are four reasons kids should start volunteering young.
