National Engagement Efforts

National Intermediate Level of Care (ILOC) Collaborative

Founded in October 2022, the Perinatal National ILOC Collaborative began meeting to serve as a unifying space for perinatal IOPs and PHPs to gather monthly to foster connection, provide clinical support and guidance, compare program structures and work together on research and advocacy initiatives.

Our founding members included representation from The Motherhood Center (NY), Thrive Wellness Reno (NV) and The Alexis Joy D'Achilles Center for Perinatal Mental Health at AHN Hospital (PA) as well as the founders of Anchor Perinatal Wellness.

Since our launch, we have supported programs through the development and launch of their programs, provided guidance and support to existing programs and now our collaborative has representation from 17 programs across the country. We have witnessed a growth of these programs since our launch in 2022 when Anchor Perinatal's state of North Carolina was the 15th state to have a perinatal intermediate level of care program and now in 2026 there are 21 states that have a perinatal ILOC available.

We also want to honor our colleagues at Drexel University whose impactful research was published in January 2022 highlighting the need for increased collaboration between mental health programs in order to impact national change and progress for the perinatal population. Thank you to Dr. Bobbie Posmontier, Dr. Pamela Geller, Dr. June Horowitz, Dr. Elgohail and Dr. Chiarello for your incredible work and your Call to Action. Our collaborative is also thrilled to say that many of these authors attend our virtual monthly gatherings where we learn from their wisdom, experience and passion for perinatal mental health treatment. Click the link below to access their full research article:

https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.202100384

Perinatal ILOC Innovations Project

There are currently only 36 perinatal intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs in the U.S. Fewer than half of U.S. states have any such programs.

Perinatal ILOC (intermediate levels of care) programs serve as a highly effective, cost-efficient, and rapid therapeutic intervention that successfully treats moderate to severe PMADs and significantly impacts the well-being of mothers and children.This approach enables women to recover more quickly, empowering them to care for their babies and reducing additional costs to the healthcare system associated with untreated psychiatric conditions. Furthermore, this intensive care model not only enhances the health trajectory for the baby, mother, partner, and family but also leaves a lasting impact on future generations.

Our 12-Month Objectives

The Perinatal ILOC Innovations Project aims to increase visibility for existing programs and provide guidelines for emerging programs through these goals:

Create 4-6 Perinatal IOP/PHP Standards of Care.

Produce one article compiling basic research on the structure and efficacy of perinatal IOP/PHP programs.

Create a webinar with for healthcare providers on when and why to refer to a perinatal ILOC in partnership with the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance

Create a perinatal ILOC awareness FAQ sheet.
Host a half-day perinatal ILOC innovations meeting during the Postpartum Support International 2026 conference in Los Angeles.

Thank you to the Perigee Foundation, Flourish Impact Fund, and the Pedersen Foundation for funding this project.

Let’s work together to expand perinatal mental health programming.

If you are interested in joining the Perinatal ILOC Collaborative or want to get involved in the Innovations Project, please email: info@anchorperinatal.com.