Improving Accessibility of Mothers & Babies

The MB team at Northwestern University, alongside colleagues at various institutions, are regularly developing and testing new innovations of the MB curriculum to better meet the needs of participating populations, improve accessibility, and promote skill utilization among participants. If you are interested in integrating one of these innovations into practice or are a researcher and would like to partner on a project, please contact our team at Northwestern. You can learn more about each innovation below.

Innovations of Mothers & Babies

Fathers and Babies (FAB)

Fathers and Babies (FAB) is a brief text-based intervention with the goals of supporting father mental health, promoting support of their partner’s mental health and supporting parent-child bonding, as participants become parents. FAB teaches skills to help fathers manage stress and to support their partner during pregnancy, after their baby is born, and throughout life. This cognitive-behavioral therapy-based intervention also supports healthy attachment and parenting behaviors. FAB can be delivered in conjunction with MB, or as a stand-alone intervention.

More About FAB

Fathers and Babies (FAB)

Fathers and Babies (FAB) development was initiated with input from home visiting stakeholders and engagement with infant mental health consultants, with FAB’s final content and delivery considerations being guided by qualitative data collected from home visiting staff, mothers and fathers. FAB was then pilot tested with 30 father-mother dads. This pilot study used mixed methods to assess FAB effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability. Pilot study results showed FAB effectiveness in reducing perceived stress among both mothers and fathers, and depressive symptoms among fathers.

FAB has the potential to have a significant impact on father mental health given the lack of other mental health supports available for new and expectant fathers. FAB was developed to be relevant for fathers in different roles and relationships, including biological and adoptive fathers, single parents, co-parents, and couples.

View our newly revised FAB facilitator and participant manuals here.

Mothers and Babies Text Messaging (MB-TXT)

MB-TXT is a text-based enhancement that allows service providers to send supplemental text messages to participants in between MB sessions to promote skill utilization and practice, completion of personal projects, and mood tracking and self-monitoring. Text messages are deployed via HealthySMS, a flexible, intuitive platform that sends automated messages. Messages are available in both English and Spanish and can supplement 1-on-1 or group delivery.

More About MB-TXT

Mothers and Babies Text Messaging (MB-TXT)

Contact Research Project Manager, Jaime Hamil at jaime.hamil@northwestern.edu if you are interested in implementing MB-TXT at your organization.

What Fathers of the FAB Program have said:

“It helps you think about a young baby’s future, your own future, your partner’s future, the kids’ future. It helps you think – like, it’s not only for babies and fathers or babies and mothers. It’s broad; it’s for everybody.”

“It helped me with stress and helped with mental health.”

“Now, I know how to take a second and breathe and actually like, okay, if I know I’m mad or if I’m frustrated the kids are gonna feel it.”

Ask us a question, we’re here to help you out.

Contact Us

MB Innovations

Improving Accessibility of Mothers & Babies

Innovations of Mothers & Babies

Fathers and Babies (FAB)

Fathers and Babies (FAB)

Mothers and Babies Text Messaging (MB-TXT)

Mothers and Babies Text Messaging (MB-TXT)

What Fathers of the FAB Program have said:

Ask us a question, we’re here to help you out.

Please log in to see this content