You don't have to figure this out on your own. Our Warm Line was started by parents who never wanted another parent to feel alone and not know what to do. We can help make a plan, find resources, share our stories, and just listen.
Our Warm Line offers free telephone support for all parents and their family members. The line is staffed by parents who have experienced a perinatal mood and/or anxiety disorder and have recovered fully or professionals with specialized training in perinatal mental health.
We provide warm, understanding, effective and private peer support. We also provide professional referrals and information about other resources in your community. Call or text today, 1-888-404-7763 or request a call back. Interpreters provided.
The Warm Line offers peer & professional support. Call or text today.
1-888-404-7763
** se habla español
You are not alone. Relief can begin with a simple phone call.
Start now by calling the Warm Line at 1-888-404-7763. Our trained staff and parent volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly. Text and email available too (warmline (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org). Interpreters provided. The Warm Line is answered live 9-4:30 Monday-Friday. On evenings and weekends please leave a message and we will return your call within 1-12 hours.
Support for the whole family: Partners, Dads, & Moms
NEW DAD?
Talk to another dad about your mental health needs during this period as well as gather information about supporting your partner who might be experiencing their own mood or anxiety disorder. Ask to talk to a dad when you call the line.
SUPPORT FOR PARTNERS!
We are experienced in serving same sex partners and LGBTQIA+ families. Call and ask for a parent or professional from the LGBTQIA+ community.
WARM LINE TEAM
Victoria Cherniak, Senior Warm Line Program Manager
Victoria Cherniak (she/her), MSW, Senior Warm Line Program Manager
Victoria, a mom of 2, is passionate about peer support and access to perinatal mental health due to the upheaval of her birth trauma and postpartum anxiety which a year later caused a happy upheaval in her professional life that lead to a 9 year stint as a postpartum doula and ultimately to PS-WA in 2018, where she loves supporting Warm Line staff, interns and volunteers. Victoria became a social worker due to her love of being in and creating community, particularly as a change agent. In 1999, she received her MSW from the University of Michigan, specializing in practice with communities and social systems.
Victoria has been a volunteer facilitator of the Queer and Trans Parent Support group with Postpartum Support International since 2020. Since 2021, she has been a member of Postpartum Support International’s Best Practices Committee for Perinatal Mental Health Equity. She has presented on topics around peer support in the perinatal space and serving LGBTQIA+ parents and was previously a board member of NAPS Doulas.
Victoria worked as a social worker and program manager before her work in the perinatal world. She provided public education and led policy work in Washington state focused on consumer justice issues. She also managed two pro bono programs that served the legal needs of immigrants and people experiencing homelessness. In 2007 she received the Golden Door Award from Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) for her work with the Newcomers Resource Project which trained volunteer attorneys to assist undocumented workers to recover wages employers intentionally withheld.
Victoria lives in Seattle with her dog, 2 cats, teen and her oldest who has recently flown the coop to chase her dreams of becoming a nurse. Victoria enjoys spending time with family and friends especially when good food is involved, she loves karaoke, singing at the top of her lungs, and has dreams of being in a choir.
Victoria.Cherniak (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Ada Figueroa, Warm Line Bilingual Specialist
Ada Figueroa (she/her) Warm Line Bilingual Specialist
Ada Figueroa is coming to us from her liaison position where she passionately advocated for language access and navigation of public education systems for Spanish speaking communities in Pierce County.
As a Latina mother of two having gone through the emotional stew of parenthood, she has supported Latinx mothers through the peer support group Caminemos Juntos. She has had the opportunity to serve disabled individuals as well as implement behavioral plans for children with Autism and related disorders.
She enjoys spending time with her family, going to festivals and traveling. She is also very passionate about herbology and reviving cultural herb practices for self healing.
Ada.Figueroa (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Karina Saunders, Community Outreach & Training Manager
Karina Saunders (she/her), Community Outreach & Training Manager
Karina loves people and creating spaces for connection and community-building. In both her nonprofit and higher education background, karina has advocated and created programming for bringing BIPOC students together and expanding support for people experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. In all her roles she has worked to center marginalized voices and create spaces for connection, learning, and reflection.
Karina is excited to join the PS-WA team as she navigates her own postpartum mental health journey. She is a strong advocate for the role peer support groups play in perinatal mental health and the bonus of long-term friendships that sometimes result. She's excited to join the inspiring all-star PS-WA team and support the expansion and defining of resources for people in the perinatal period. She plans to put her master's in education to work encouraging the budding perinatal support communities across Washington state.
Melissa Burden, Warm Line Volunteer Supervisor
Melissa Burden (she/her), Warm Line Volunteer Supervisor
Melissa supports Perinatal Support Washington as the Warm Line Program Specialist. She is a mother to one, and after experiencing a PMAD herself became a dedicated volunteer and patient advocate for those who are struggling through the perinatal experience. As the Warm Line Program specialist, she supports the volunteers who provide the warm support and helpful resources to parents who are struggling and need space to be held. She also answers on the Warm Line, aligning with her dedication to supporting parents. Additionally, she dedicates her time to volunteering as a facilitator of a peer-support group. She is trained in the GPS (Group Peer Support) model, and is going on 4 years of facilitating for the Village Circle (Bellingham, WA). Melissa resides in Bellingham, Washington and spends her spare time building Lego with her 4 year old, reading, and spending time with her family & friends.
melissa.burden (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Nathan Friend, Warm Line Dad Specialist
Nathan Friend (he/him), Warm Line Dad Specialist
Nathan Friend is the Dad Specialist for the PSWA Warm Line. Since 2022, he has helped dads and partners to navigate the struggles of new parenthood through peer support and resource sharing. Leaning on his personal lived experience with pregnancy loss, traumatic birth, and postpartum depression, Nathan brings authenticity, curiosity, and care to his work with fellow dads. He facilitates a vibrant weekly Dads Support Group, bringing new dads from across Washington State together to build community and to share the challenges of parenting. A compassionate listener who loves cloudy days and any kind of movement, Nathan and his wife raise their three young children in a lively multi-generational, multicultural household.
nathan.friend (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Aida Juarez, Warm Line Bilingual Specialist
Aida Juarez (she/her), Warm Line Bilingual Specialist
Aida coordinates our Spanish Warm Line, supporting our Spanish-speaking callers, developing culturally-relevant policies and procedures, and translating outreach materials. Aida joined PS-WA after attending a group peer support (GPS) training in Yakima.
For the past 20 years, Aida has been working with pregnant mothers, infants, and their families, providing brief counseling and referrals as a certified counselor and lactation specialist. She is the Social Services Department Manager at Tri-Cities Community Health, running the day-to-day operations of the department’s Maternity Support Services, WIC, Peer Counselor, and Outreach Programs.
Aida.Juarez (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Stephanie Lewis, Parent Support and Warm Line Specialist
Stephanie Lewis, (she/her) Parent Support and Warm Line Specialist
My name is Stephanie Lewis and I am a wife , and mother to 3. I have served the African American/black community as a doula for 3 years and found my passion in supporting families as they transitioned into parenthood and the postpartum period. Shortly after attending births as a doula, I began to facilitate PEPs groups for black/african american families in my community and have a passion for holding space for families during this transitional time and offering support around resources, education and ways to pour into their wellness through parenting.
After having my last child, I had a challenging time with my mental health trying to adjust to being a mother of 3 and feeling isolated with lack of community. Over the years navigating my mental health and finding the tools and support I needed made all the difference for me. I want to be able to share and support others the way I wish I had support in such a rocky time. Being able to join PS-WA and hold space for families on the warm line and support them in finding the resources they need to create wellness for themselves is an honor.
I have a passion for learning and exploring holistic health and wellness and teach yoga in my community. I homeschool my 3 children and love being outdoors in nature whenever I can.
stephanie.lewis (at) perinatalsupport (dot) org
Kelli Mae Willis, Warm Line Program Coordinator
Kelli Mae Willis, Warm Line Program Coordinator
Hazel Bryant, MSW Warm Line Intern
Hazel Bryant (she/her), MSW Warm Line Intern
Hi, I’m Hazel Bryant, a second-year Masters of Social Work student at The Ohio State University. I earned my bachelor’s degree in social work and have a strong interest in client advocacy and case management. As an intern with the Warm Line at Perinatal Support Washington, I’m excited to support individuals during the perinatal period and help connect them to the care and resources they need.
My passion for perinatal mental health comes from my own experiences as a mom, and from seeing people close to me face similar challenges. Outside of school and work, I love spending time with my husband and our child, traveling when we can, and volunteering at my church.
Maya Dennis, MSW Warm Line Intern
Maya Dennis, MSW Student Warm Line Intern
My name is Maya Dennis. I’m a wife and a mother of two, ages 6 and 1. I'm currently an intern with Perinatal Support Washington. I’m also a Master of Social Work student at Aurora University. After having my children, I had to overcome my own challenges adjusting to motherhood—physically, emotionally, and mentally. That experience sparked a deep desire to support others during this life-changing transition.
I’m passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces for parents, and I believe that no one should have to navigate early parenthood alone. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in perinatal mental health, with a particular interest in advocating for better support and policies within the corporate sector. I’m honored to serve on the Warm Line, where I can offer encouragement, understanding, and a reminder that your story matters.
Shanti de la Pena, MSW Warm Line Intern
Shanti de la Pena, MSW Warm Line Intern
Darryl Laferte, MSW Warm Line Intern
Darryl Laferte, MSW Warm Line Intern
Darryl Laferte joins PS-WA as a second-year MSW student at the University of Washington. His experiences as father of two include significant challenges during the perinatal period, and he is also a longtime volunteer with Parent Trust for Washington Children, deeply committed to supporting children and families in underserved communities. Darryl knows firsthand what the power of active listening and group support can accomplish for struggling individuals to transform their lives, and is eager to contribute to, and reciprocally learn from, Perinatal Support Washington.
LaQuanda Jackson, MSW Warm Line Intern
LaQuanda Jackson, MSW Warm Line Intern
My name is LaQuanda Jackson, and I am a first-year Master of Social Work student at The Ohio State University. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University and am currently completing my internship with Perinatal Support Washington. My focus on perinatal mental health is deeply connected to my own journey into parenthood, which ignited my passion for supporting parents and families during this transformative time. As a military spouse, I offer a unique perspective on resilience, transition, and the importance of strong support systems for caregivers. In my free time, I enjoy reading, crafting, and spending quality moments with my spouse and children. I look forward to growing through this internship and contributing to Perinatal Support Washington’s mission of strengthening families through compassionate, culturally responsive care.
Suvekshya Pudasaini, MSW Warm Line Intern
Suvekshya Pudasaini, Warm Line Intern
My name is Suvekshya Pudasaini. I’ve spent the last 10 years volunteering and working with different nonprofit organizations, both in the U.S. and in Nepal. I’ve always cared deeply about helping people and giving back to the community. My journey into mental health began after the birth of my first child during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was later diagnosed with autism at 18 months. Becoming a parent in a new country, far from my family and the culture I grew up in, was both isolating and overwhelming. That experience showed me just how important support and connection are, especially during the perinatal period. As a Warm Line volunteer, I’m here to listen, share what helped me, and remind you that you're not alone. Your feelings and experiences matter, and support is always available. I’m passionate about walking alongside other parents and families during these tender times. In my free time, I love spending time with my family and exploring nature, cooking my favorite meals, and taking my kids to different local parks and national parks.
You can order or download our Warm Line outreach flyers
using the buttons below
Warm Line Flyer 5x7-English
Warm Line Flyer 5x7 -Spanish
Warm Line Flyer 8.5x11 -English
Warm Line Flyer 8.5x11 -Spanish
Warm Line Postcards and Flyers are also available for download in 28 languages!
Warm Line Postcard 5x7 - Chinese
Warm Line Flyer 8.5x11 - Chinese
Warm Line Postcard 5x7 - Russian
Warm Line Flyer 8.5x11 -
Russian
Click below to open a downloadable PDF
Warm Line Overview Video
"I wish someone had told me what to expect. I wish someone had talked about what they went through, or directed me toward finding out what other women went through, so that I didn't feel so utterly crazy."
- Tyrese L. Coleman
"I wish someone had told me what to expect. I wish someone had talked about what they went through, or directed me toward finding out what other women went through, so that I didn't feel so utterly crazy."