Pregnant and postpartum patients in the Sacramento area are now getting mental health check ins right in the exam room. Dignity Health has embedded community health workers into routine obstetric care to screen for mental health risks and walk patients toward support. The pilot, which collected early results through March 2026, completed more than 400 screenings and flagged roughly 27% of mothers as being at risk for a mental health disorder, with about 3% identified as needing urgent safety follow up. Clinic staff say that extra one on one time is helping patients move from screening into treatment faster.
Where the pilot is operating
The program is running in Dignity Health clinics that serve Sacramento and nearby Woodland, with community health workers stationed in Mercy Medical Group’s Midtown obstetrics department and at Dignity Health’s Woodland Clinic. The Mercy Medical Group Midtown location is listed on CommonSpirit, and Dignity Health’s local pages show obstetrics services at Woodland Clinic.
How community health workers are used
The pilot places trained community health workers in Ob/Gyn offices so they can follow up on positive mental health screens, provide brief interventions, and connect patients with therapy, medication management, or social supports. As outlined by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, the workers are intended to close gaps in follow up and strengthen behavioral health integration within routine prenatal and postpartum care. The model leans on culturally grounded navigation and hands on care coordination to reduce the drop off that often happens between screening and actual treatment.
Early results from the pilot
Preliminary numbers released through March show community health workers conducted more than 400 screenings, with about 27% of screened mothers identified as at risk for a mental health disorder and roughly 3% flagged for potential self harm, as reported by KCRA. Program leaders say everyone who screened positive received some form of intervention, ranging from warm handoffs to counseling to referrals for treatment. Those early findings have been used to fine tune clinic workflows and to prioritize patients who have immediate safety concerns.
Why this matters for new moms
Mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and the year after birth, affecting roughly one in five birthing people, and a substantial share never receive care. The American Association of Medical Colleges notes this prevalence, and public health analyses such as CDC reporting find suicide and drug overdose among the leading causes of death in the first year postpartum. That context is a big part of why timely identification and navigation are treated as critical. Embedding community health workers is meant to turn a simple screening into sustained care by cutting through barriers and improving connections to local services.
Next steps and evaluation
Program partners say the pilot, designed with input from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, will be evaluated and the findings shared to guide broader behavioral health integration in obstetrics. As outlined by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, planning began in 2024 and the pilot launched in 2025, with forthcoming reports expected to spell out operational recommendations and metrics for success. Local clinicians say the immediate priority is finding ways to sustain funding for community health workers so that screening to treatment handoffs remain consistent after the pilot period ends.
Where to get help
If you or someone you know is pregnant or recently gave birth and needs support, trained counselors are available 24/7 through the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), according to the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Postpartum Support International also runs a helpline that connects callers with local resources; contact PSI at 1-800-944-4773. In a crisis, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
