Peer-reviewed article

Maternal Health and Child Welfare: A Long-Overdue Conversation

Sarah Verbiest, Amanda Ann Klein, Yasmin Grewal-Kök, Charlotte Goodell, Clare Anderson · 24 Jan 2026

Abstract

The first year of life is foundational for both mother and child in terms of their physical and mental health and well-being, bonding, identity, and attachment. It is critical that infants are safe and mothers receive the services and support they need. Caring for an infant while recovering from childbirth is stressful. Postpartum challenges, such as maternal mental and physical health conditions, relationship problems, isolation, and substance use disorder (SUD), can threaten the mother–child dyad and place them at increased risk of child welfare system involvement. Compounding this, the average household income drops to the lowest lifetime level—and the risk of falling into poverty is highest—just prior to the birth of a child (Stanczyk, 2020). About one in five women in the United States experience mental health conditions or SUD during pregnancy or postpartum (Task Force on Maternal Mental Health [TFMMH], 2024). However, less than half of women needing treatment or support during the perinatal period receive it (Luca et al., 2020). American mental mindsets around motherhood make asking for help difficult and stigmatize mental illness and SUD. Fear of being labeled a “bad mother” and their infant being taken from them leads many women to answer postpartum screening surveys inaccurately, decline resources, or hide substance use (TFMMH, 2024), leaving them to navigate these conditions with little support during a very vulnerable time.