LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mother-Wise program is looking for community members interested in volunteering.

Mother-Wise volunteers are trained to provide invaluable assistance for Lake County moms to help them ease into their new role, while giving their babies the best possible start.

Registration is now open for the next volunteer training, where ordinary women learn the skills needed to give extraordinary support to new moms as they adjust to the joys, challenges and demands of motherhood. 

The Saathi (Sanskrit for “companion” ) volunteers make home visits and help their moms through all kinds of challenges while building relationships and support systems powerful enough to change lives.

Since its beginning in 2010, this program has enriched and benefited moms and volunteers alike.

The upcoming training program will teach the basics of home visiting, including the special needs of mothers, effective communication with families, active listening skills and signs and effects of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression.

Following the training, Saathis are matched with a mom in their area. While they are trained to notice signs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and make appropriate recommendations, their main role is simply being there for the mom they support. 

Current and past volunteers tell of how deeply satisfying it is to work with moms, new babies and the rest of their family.      

As Mother-Wise grows and serves more Lake County families, so does the need for caring volunteers. Not everyone can commit to being a Saathi, but there are many other ways to get involved.

They currently need a group leader for a weekly support and play group, fundraising help and extra hands for help with our free supply closet.

A short visit, a listening ear, delivering a meal, holding a baby, a simple walk – the gift of time is invaluable and leaves a lasting impression on our mothers and families.

The program welcomes all volunteers, but new Saathis are needed throughout the county.

The next Saathi training is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 13, at the Mother-Wise office at 180 N. Main in Lakeport.

If you have time and experience to share with a mom from our community, or want to help in another way, you can register by calling Jaclyn Ley at 707-349-1210.