Across the country, parents face increasing levels of stress, isolation, and unmet mental health needs. During this vulnerable period, emotional support and connection are essential not only for parents, but for their children and future generations.

At Zero to Thrive, housed within the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, we are dedicated to strengthening the wellbeing and resilience of families from pregnancy through early childhood. Today, we are proud to share a major milestone in that mission: continued support from Perigee Fund to accelerate the national scaling of Strong Roots Mom Power®, our flagship, evidence-based maternal mental health and parenting program.

Supporting the Expansion of Mom Power

Perigee Fund is a philanthropic organization working to strengthen infant, maternal, and early childhood mental health systems. Their support reflects the growing recognition of the need for early childhood mental health systems and for child-centered approaches that support parents and young children.

Mom Power was developed at the University of Michigan through deep collaboration with parents, clinicians, and community partners. Designed to reduce maternal depression, posttraumatic stress, and parenting stress, the program integrates mental health support, parenting guidance, self-care skills, and peer connection within a supportive group setting.

Over more than a decade of research, Mom Power has demonstrated powerful outcomes for families. Participants experience improved mental health, stronger early relationships with their children, and increased connection to community resources. Today, Mom Power is recognized as an evidence-based practice on multiple national registries.

Leadership Driving Impact

Together, Dr. Kate Rosenblum and Dr. Maria Muzik, co-directors of Zero to Thrive, have spent more than a decade leading research, clinical innovation, and community partnership efforts to advance maternal, infant, and early childhood mental health. Their work is grounded in deep collaboration with families and communities, with a shared commitment to translating science into meaningful, real-world impact.

“We are thrilled that this Perigee Fund support will help us put Mom Power in the hands of more families who deserve access to this program. A primary goal of our research has always been to ensure that the services we co-developed, and tested, with parents, providers, and communities would then reach more families in meaningful, practical ways,” said Dr. Rosenblum. “This support allows us to build sustainable systems that extend far beyond the university.”

What’s Next

With Perigee Fund support, Zero to Thrive is building the infrastructure needed to ensure that Mom Power can reach families across the country. Over the coming months, we will share updates as this next chapter unfolds.

Together, we are transforming research into real-world systems change, so families everywhere can thrive.