Building Skills and Peer Connections to Improve Mothers’ Mental Wellness: Implementation of Western Mass MOMS
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Overall, we found that Western Mass MOMS was largely implemented as designed and cost $1,719 per participant. The vast majority of study participants randomly assigned to the program group completed most classes in the MOMS Stress Management Course. Strong relationships among staff, between staff and participants, and among participants were foundational to successful implementation. Because of the strong contrast between the services Western Mass MOMS offered and the mental health services otherwise available in the community, the NextGen evaluation is well-poised to detect impacts on symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, persistent challenges to employment that Western Mass MOMS was not designed to address, such as child care and transportation, might dampen the program’s impact on employment. The key driver of impacts will be service receipt among study participants randomly assigned to the program group relative to service receipt among those randomly assigned to the comparison group. The NextGen team will assess differences in service receipt through follow-up surveys with study participants. The first impact report, covering a six-month follow-up period, is expected to be released in fall 2026; another report, covering an 18-month follow-up period, is expected in fall 2027.This report discusses findings from a descriptive and cost study of Western Mass Mental Health Outreach for MotherS PartnershipSM (Western Mass MOMS). This program is designed to reduce depressive symptoms, improve social connections, and promote labor market success among mothers or caregivers with low incomes who identify as women or nonbinary and are experiencing symptoms of depression. It is part of the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project, which seeks to rigorously evaluate employment strategies for people with low incomes and physical or mental health challenges. The NextGen Project is using a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of Western Mass MOMS in Massachusetts.
The report explores the design, implementation, and cost of Western Mass MOMS, which is based on the MOMS Partnership model developed in 2011 to improve the emotional well-being of mothers while helping them reach their education and employment goals. Western Mass MOMS provides the MOMS Stress Management Course, grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy, supplemented with group and individualized employment services meetings. Viability, a nonprofit human services provider, implemented Western Mass MOMS in Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts.
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