A Q&A with Dr. Kate Rosenblum, Co-Director of Zero To Thrive

Dr. Kate Rosenblum is a child psychologist and co-director of the Zero to Thrive program at Michigan Medicine, specializing in perinatal, infant, and early childhood mental health. With extensive experience in both research and clinical practice, she is a leading expert on the mental

health challenges facing parents and young children. Her work, including the development of the Strong Roots programs, is designed to promote the health and resilience of families, and positions her as a key voice in addressing the pressing issues highlighted by the Surgeon General's advisory on parenting stress and loneliness.

 Q: Why is the U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on parental mental health and well-being significant?

A: The advisory calls attention to a public health crisis surrounding parenting stress, loneliness, and unmet mental health needs among parents and caregivers all across our country. Parents and caregivers often feel they are alone in their struggles, but this report will help people see that they are not alone. This report will drive public health interventions and the allocation of more federal resources towards evidence-based programming and other forms of support for parents and caregivers. 

Q: What is unique about the challenges parents face today?

A: Financial stress, demands on parents' time, concerns over safety in schools, and difficulty managing social media are just some of the things parents are facing today that can contribute to overall levels of stress. And parents today are lonely! People of childbearing age report the highest levels of loneliness, and this feeling of social isolation leaves many parents feeling they have to navigate all of these stresses alone.  The data in the advisory underscores what I hear from parents and caregivers every day -- 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 26% among other adults. From urban cities to rural areas, parents across the nation face significant stress and isolation. 

Q: Why is community connection important for parents?

A: I don’t believe that we were ever meant to parent alone. Throughout time and across cultures families were typically embedded in communities. This is important because ALL  parents need support—parenting is hard, and having others available to offer advice, empathize, or help can make the demands a lot more bearable. So not surprisingly, the U.S. Surgeon General's advisory emphasizes that social isolation and parenting stress are intertwined. Addressing these issues requires not just individual therapies but efforts to nurture and build strong, supportive communities. Group-based programs are one effective strategy, but broader efforts to create communal spaces and address systemic issues like violence reduction, economic oppression and regulation of social media are also needed.

Q: What solutions has Zero to Thrive developed to address these issues?

A: At Zero to Thrive, we have developed the Strong Roots family of programs. These are group-based integrated mental health and parenting interventions that support families and caregivers. Over a decade of research has shown these programs reduce parenting stress, promote mental health, and build connections among parents. They provide a space for parents to support one another, which is crucial for fostering resilience.

Q: How do group-based programs like Strong Roots Mom Power and Strong Roots Parent Cafes support parents?

A: Programs like Mom Power and Strong Roots Parent Cafes offer an environment where parents can connect, share real experiences, and both offer and receive meaningful support. The Strong Roots Tree metaphor used in these sessions helps parents understand the importance of providing a secure base and safe haven for their children, which in turn helps children branch out and explore, but also build strong relationships and trust, what we refer to as “strengthening the roots”. Mom Power not only provides parents with mental health support and psychoeducation but also helps grow the skills and tools needed to promote their own, and their child’s, health and well-being.

Q: How does your research relate to the Surgeon General's advisory?

A: In 2017, our research demonstrated that Mom Power, a 13-session group intervention for mothers with depression, could reduce parenting stress and even trigger positive brain changes linked to parental empathy. Brain imaging studies show that mothers who participate in Mom Power demonstrate greater activation of "empathy circuits" when observing their children's emotions. Mom Power is the first program of its kind to document functional changes in the maternal brain. The U.S. Surgeon General's advisory was clear: the well-being of parents and caregivers is directly linked to the well-being of their children, and our research supports this.

Q: What are the challenges in expanding group-based programs?

A: One major challenge is the lack of adequate reimbursement for group-based care compared to individual therapy. Additionally, while there is funding for some services, it often doesn’t extend to group support. Policy changes are needed to ensure that more families can access these beneficial programs.

Q: How can policymakers and community leaders support parents?

A: Policymakers and community leaders should recognize the value of group-based programs and work to increase funding and integrate these components into existing services. By creating more opportunities for parents to connect, we can build stronger, more resilient communities.