Having a baby is one of the biggest changes a woman can possibly go through.
Here, at Bangor Public Health and Community Services, we are committed to helping mothers get a good start for themselves and their babies.
What is it? The ROSE Program (Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for new parents), is an evidence-based program that will teach you skills, and provide information and resources that you need to lower the risk of postpartum depression as you navigate your (new) role as a parent.
This class is relaxed, fun, and taught by Registered Nurses with both experience in childbirth and postnatal care, lactation, as well as certification in Perinatal Mental Health.
Who is it for? ROSE is perfect for any prenatal parents, and we heavily encourage you take it in the prenatal period. However, we found many postpartum parents actively dealing with depression, anxiety, or who needs more support, would also benefit from this class. We encourage anybody who feels they would benefit from this, to attend.
The ROSE program consists of 4 in person group sessions, and a bonus session if you choose to enroll:
- Session A (group) – Introductions to Postpartum Changes – 60 minutes
- Session B (group) – Role Transitions/Being a caregiver- 60 minutes
- Session C (group) – Managing Relationships – 60 minutes
- Session D (group) – Assertiveness and Goal Setting – 60 minutes
- Session E (Optional- individual phone call/check-in from RN) – The Review Session and Support Call
ROSE is offered several times a year hosted primarily at Bangor Public Health.
Ready to Enroll?
Please review upcoming classes. Once you find a class that fits your schedule, please reach out to the staff at 207-992-4549, or email us at phn@bangormaine.gov to enroll. If you are concerned about being able to attend the class due to scheduling conflicts, please see our FAQ section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, we discourage brining children, for your benefit. However, it’s certainly an option on a case by case basis.
We generally find that parents get more out of the class when they can be fully focused and present. It’s also important to note that certain topics may not be appropriate for children old enough to understand content discussed. That said, we want to ensure everybody has access to this class. Please reach out to our coordinator Sarah at sarah.lowe@bangormaine.gov to discuss your situation.
We encourage you to reach out to the facilitator Sarah Lowe, at sarah.lowe@bangormaine.gov to inquire about additional classes. Often, if we can get a few interested parties, we may be able to schedule another class.
No, this class provides education to parents, based on therapeutic models such as interpersonal therapy. This empowers parents to use strategies such as stress management, accessing resources, and more. We encourage anybody who feels they would benefit from therapy, to also engage in that as well as ROSE. Our ROSE leaders are happy to help participants find resources such as therapy, and more.
We heavily encourage reaching out to our coordinator Sarah at sarah.lowe@bangormaine.gov to discuss how to navigate this. Generally speaking, if you’re only going to miss one session, we still recommend attending. If you will miss more than one, we ask that you do not enroll, as slots are limited.
We love to partner with various organizations to offer ROSE where it’s most convenient. If you are a group of 5-10 people looking to have this class brought to you, please reach out to the class coordinator Sarah at sarah.lowe@bangormaine.gov to discuss bringing ROSE to you.
Your partner is absolutely able to attend ROSE with you. Please keep in mind the program is designed for the birthing person, not necessarily “for” fathers/partners. However, partners knowing what resources are available, what signs and symptoms to look for, etc. are vital to your well-being, and theirs.
ROSE sessions A-D are done in person. We find in person class is crucial to parents being engaged with the material, learning from other students in the class, and getting to practice skills together. Most of these benefits are lost when we do class virtually. That being said, we know barriers happen, and we encourage you to reach out about your specific barriers so we can work together and find an option that allows you to participate.