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Board hears hours of public testimony urging mandated perinatal mental‑health training; refers consideration to workforce committee
Summary
After experts, survivors and professional groups urged required pre‑ and post‑licensure training on perinatal mental health, the Board agreed to refer the matter to its workforce development committee for integration with a broader review of degree and CE requirements and to pursue immediate outreach/education options.
The Board dedicated a major portion of its Nov. 21 session to discussion and public testimony about whether continuing education (CE) in maternal/perinatal and menopausal mental health should be required for licensees.
Policy context Board staff told members two recently signed bills require the Board to "consider" adding coursework in menopausal mental health and maternal (perinatal) mental health to CE requirements. Under current law licensees must complete 36 hours of CE every two years; staff emphasized the Board must weigh relevance and precedent before mandating specific topics.
Public testimony and evidence Advocates and clinicians gave extended oral testimony. Elise Springer of Postpartum Support International told the Board, “Perinatal mental health is a public health crisis,” citing prevalence, links to maternal mortality and disproportionate harms for Black women. Dozens of survivors, clinicians and researchers described delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and fatal outcomes when clinicians lack perinatal competencies. Testimony included personal accounts, peer‑reviewed research citations and calls for both pre‑degree curriculum requirements and continuing education standards.
Professional association responses and concerns CAMFT and other provider groups expressed sympathy but cautioned against immediate CE mandates. CAMFT representative Kathy Atkins said the association is "opposed to the proposed additional CEs" as a general policy and recommended embedding any curriculum changes into graduate education rather than adding piecemeal CE mandates.
Board action and next steps Rather than enact an immediate mandate, the Board directed staff to refer the matter to the workforce development committee so the topic can be reviewed as part of a comprehensive reexamination of graduate education and CE requirements (beginning with LMFT degree review). Staff also were asked to explore near‑term outreach and education options to increase clinician awareness while the longer review proceeds.
Why this matters Board regulators oversee professional competence and public protection. Supporters argued basic perinatal training will reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality, improve early detection and reduce systemic inequities; opponents warned of precedent for many specialized CE mandates and urged structural fixes in graduate education.
