Molly McNamara

MSW candidate with 5+ years of experience in child welfare and family-focused social work, including crisis intervention, safety assessment, case management, resource coordination, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Through this work, has supported families experiencing a wide range of mental health, substance use, housing, parenting, and safety concerns, including some involving pregnancy and the postpartum period. During the final year of the MSW program, intentionally expanded training and community involvement in maternal and perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International, specialized certificate programs, and hospital-based learning opportunities. Seeking to bring a strong foundation in family systems and complex casework into hospital-based maternal child health and perinatal social work.

Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training — 9-Session Intensive
Postpartum Support International + The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health | 18 CE hours | Sept–Dec 2026
Covered perinatal mental health disorders, screening and assessment, evidence-based psychotherapy, cultural competency, paternal perinatal mental health, psychological adjustment to pregnancy/postpartum, psychopharmacology, substance use disorders, and family/community resources.

Perinatal Mental Health: Culturally Informed Approaches to Screening, Assessment, and Treatment
Postpartum Support International + ACOG | 2-part webinar series | Certificate | January 2027
Focused on disparities in maternal mental health, trauma, social determinants of health, structural racism, implicit bias, cultural humility, screening, treatment options, and referral pathways.

Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care
Postpartum Support International | 14.5 clinical CE hours | February 2027
Covered PMAD assessment, risk factors, differential diagnosis, treatment planning, evidence-based psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and breastfeeding considerations.

Foundations in Paternal Perinatal Mental Health
Postpartum Support International | 2-day webinar | CE | April 2027
Focused on paternal perinatal mental health, fatherhood and PMADs, bias and gender-sensitive care, screening, case conceptualization, evidence-based interventions, and treatment planning.

Perinatal Substance Use Disorders Training
Postpartum Support International | 7.25 CE hours | June 2027
Covered perinatal substance use, culturally responsive care, parent-child dyadic impacts, treatment approaches, recovery support, and pharmacologic considerations.

Advanced Postpartum Psychosis Training
Postpartum Support International | August 2027
Focused on recognition, differential diagnosis, risk assessment, urgent intervention, family involvement, treatment approaches, and longer-term care needs.

Child Welfare Institute (CWI), Massachusetts Department of Children and Families — Southborough, MA

Capacity, Not Exposure: Assessing Infant Safety Under Massachusetts Law Change
September 2026
Covered caregiver capacity, infant safety, prenatal substance exposure, Family Care Plans, recovery supports, and application of Massachusetts mandated reporter law changes.

Perinatal Mental Health: Review of the Prevalence, Impact, Interventions and Resources
October 2026
Reviewed perinatal mental health conditions, co-occurring substance use, interpersonal violence, racism, impacts on parenting and child development, and Massachusetts interventions and resources.

NTI: National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative — Child Welfare Professionals
20 hours | 2026
Covered adoption-competent and trauma-informed practice, permanency, attachment, grief and loss, identity, and behavioral health needs of children and families.