Perinatal Mental Health Action and Research through Trusted Networks, Engagement, and Relationships (PARTNER)

Building a statewide network to make research relevant, useful, and responsive to the needs and experiences of Montana families.

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies – The Montana Coalition, the University of Montana, Berry Medicine Native Birthwork Initiatives, and Postpartum Support International – Montana are working together to build a statewide network for patient-centered perinatal mental health research.

We’re bringing together people with lived experience, families and caregivers, healthcare providers, community partners and researchers to help identify what matters most to Montana families and what questions research should help answer. This work is made possible by a funding contract from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

Why? To build stronger connections between the people who conduct research and the people whose lives are affected by it.

Objectives

  • OBJECTIVE 1: Gather views from perinatal patients, families, caregivers and the broader healthcare community in Montana on what they need to participate in patient-centered CER.
  • OBJECTIVE 2: Create a statewide research learning collaborative to facilitate patients, families, caregivers and the broader healthcare community in identifying perinatal mental health patient-centered outcomes, prioritizing patient-centered perinatal mental health CER questions and developing a research agenda focused on patient-centered perinatal mental health CER.
  • OBJECTIVE 3: Build capacity for community members and perinatal health researchers in Montana to engage in future PMAD CER through partnerships, trainings and convenings.
  • OBJECTIVE 4: Create a community advisory board (CAB) infrastructure called the PARTNER Advisory Committee to review and participate in future patient-centered perinatal mental health CER.

This is a dynamic, multi-year project. Check back on this page for updates and to learn more about the work as it develops.

Why this matters

Perinatal mental health challenges are common, but many people do not get the support they need. These challenges can be even greater for families living in rural communities, where barriers can include provider shortages, long travel distances, limited transportation and long wait times for care.

Montana also faces significant disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly among rural and Indigenous families. At the same time, there is growing work to improve perinatal mental health across the state – but there is a need for stronger coordination and greater involvement from the people and communities most affected.

 We have people doing important work across Montana. Now, we’re working to bring people together, strengthen those connections and make sure the people most affected have a voice in what happens next. Sign up for the Montana Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative newsletter for project updates.

Get Involved

We want to connect with:

  • People with lived experience of perinatal mental health challenges
  • Rural and Indigenous communities and people working with those communities
  • Parents and caregivers
  • Healthcare and behavioral health providers
  • Researchers
  • Community organizations
  • Others who want to help improve perinatal mental health outcomes in Montana

 PARTNER Project activity recruitment begins September 2026.

All recruitment has begun and please engage through the fliers below.

We’re looking for patients, caregivers, providers, and researchers who are interested in helping shape the future of perinatal mental health research in Montana.

  • Apply for Research Learning Collaborative: Patients, caregivers, providers, and researchers are invited to help shape the future of perinatal mental health research in Montana.
  • Apply for the Advisory Committee: Members will receive training in patient centered CER and guide activities to bring community and patient perspectives into future research.
  • Complete a Survey or Focus Group: Share with us what you know about perinatal mental health in Montana.
  • Join a Research Pairing: Chance for 1:1 connection focused on perinatal mental health research in Montana.
  • Attend a Quarterly Training Webinar: Learn about patient-centered research and CER. ​

Contact hmhb@hmhb-mt.org or subscribe to the Montana Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative newsletter to learn more.

 

 

We invite you to join us for a one-hour virtual session to learn more about PARTNER, patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER), and how you can be involved.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 12–1 p.m. | Zoom

Agenda includes:

  • Introduction to the PARNTER project
  • What is PCORI and CER, Dr. Lisa Pastore, PCORI
  • Overview of project objectives, including:
    • Perinatal landscape in Montana
    • Research Learning Collaborative
    • Advisory Committee
    • Research Learning Pairs
  • How to get involved
  • Questions and answers

Register Here

 

Research Learning Collaborative

Researchers + community partners

Bringing researchers and community partners together. The Research Learning Collaborative will bring together researchers, healthcare providers, patients, families, caregivers and other community partners to build relationships and identify shared priorities for perinatal mental health research.

Together, they will:

  • Build relationships and strengthen partnerships
  • Identify the outcomes that matter most to Montana families
  • Prioritize patient-centered research questions
  • Develop a statewide perinatal mental health research agenda

The group will meet regularly, including monthly virtual meetings and an annual in-person gathering.

Research Learning Collaborative recruitment begins September 2026, with members expected to be selected and named in November 2026.

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Advisory Committee

Lived experience + community voice

Bringing lived experience to the table.

The PARTNER Advisory Committee will bring together people with lived experience of perinatal mental health challenges and others who are interested in improving outcomes and experiences for Montana families.

Members will receive training in patient-centered research and will participate in activities that help bring community perspectives into future perinatal mental health research.

The board will meet regularly and help build a structure for community participation in future research.

PARTNER Advisory Committee recruitment begins September 2026, with members expected to be selected and named in November 2026.

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