BY MICHAEL ELLIS

For many, pregnancy is a time of joy and excitement, but it can also be a challenging time for families, particularly for the most disadvantaged. MotherWise is an organization in metro-Denver dedicated to empowering mothers and their families to thrive during this critical stage. Our core program includes 6 weeks of workshops plus one-on-one coaching for mothers.

In group-based workshops, mothers consider ways to communicate effectively in close relationships, solve problems, manage conflict in their families and exit unhealthy relationships safely. They also learn about caring for and connecting with a newborn. In addition to the workshops, each MotherWise client has a dedicated family support coach who works one-on-one with her to apply new skills in her own life and connect her with other community resources such as food assistance, housing, and employment services. Meals, onsite childcare, and transportation are provided to support attendance. All services are available in English and Spanish. 

“Anybody could benefit from this program,” says Izzy, a recent MotherWise graduate who now has a four-month-old daughter. “They teach you how to communicate, especially after you have a baby and everything gets turned upside down as far as the relationships you have around you.”

“We hope to see MotherWise become part of routine prenatal care in our community,” Dr. Galena Rhoades, the Executive Director and a Research Professor at University of Denver, says. “It’s a time in her life and her family’s life where there are so many changes happening, and providing the kind of support we offer has the potential to impact important outcomes later on ­— improving her birth outcomes, improving the family’s stability going forward and really improving the lives of her children in the long term.”

MotherWise’s annual fundraising campaign is centered around Mother’s Day. Want to get involved? Hosting events are a great opportunity to introduce your friends, family, and colleagues to the mission and have fun at the same time. From small fundraising dinners to wine tastings to large-scale golf tournaments, these special events bring together passionate individuals who are interested in supporting local moms as they make bringing up their baby a success. MotherWise is always looking for community sponsors that support our mission through donations of goods or services such as restaurants, construction, furniture stores, and software development. Check out www.motherwisecolorado.org to donate or learn more.

For many, pregnancy is a time of joy and excitement, but it can also be a challenging time for families, particularly for the most disadvantaged. MotherWise is an organization in metro-Denver dedicated to empowering mothers and their families to thrive during this critical stage. Our core program includes 6 weeks of workshops plus one-on-one coaching for mothers.

In group-based workshops, mothers consider ways to communicate effectively in close relationships, solve problems, manage conflict in their families and exit unhealthy relationships safely. They also learn about caring for and connecting with a newborn. In addition to the workshops, each MotherWise client has a dedicated family support coach who works one-on-one with her to apply new skills in her own life and connect her with other community resources such as food assistance, housing, and employment services. Meals, onsite childcare, and transportation are provided to support attendance. All services are available in English and Spanish. 

“Anybody could benefit from this program,” says Izzy, a recent MotherWise graduate who now has a four-month-old daughter. “They teach you how to communicate, especially after you have a baby and everything gets turned upside down as far as the relationships you have around you.”

“We hope to see MotherWise become part of routine prenatal care in our community,” Dr. Galena Rhoades, the Executive Director and a Research Professor at University of Denver, says. “It’s a time in her life and her family’s life where there are so many changes happening, and providing the kind of support we offer has the potential to impact important outcomes later on ­— improving her birth outcomes, improving the family’s stability going forward and really improving the lives of her children in the long term.”

MotherWise’s annual fundraising campaign is centered around Mother’s Day. Want to get involved? Hosting events are a great opportunity to introduce your friends, family, and colleagues to the mission and have fun at the same time. From small fundraising dinners to wine tastings to large-scale golf tournaments, these special events bring together passionate individuals who are interested in supporting local moms as they make bringing up their baby a success. MotherWise is always looking for community sponsors that support our mission through donations of goods or services such as restaurants, construction, furniture stores, and software development. Check out www.motherwisecolorado.org to donate or learn more.

For many, pregnancy is a time of joy and excitement, but it can also be a challenging time for families, particularly for the most disadvantaged. MotherWise is an organization in metro-Denver dedicated to empowering mothers and their families to thrive during this critical stage. Our core program includes 6 weeks of workshops plus one-on-one coaching for mothers.

In group-based workshops, mothers consider ways to communicate effectively in close relationships, solve problems, manage conflict in their families and exit unhealthy relationships safely. They also learn about caring for and connecting with a newborn. In addition to the workshops, each MotherWise client has a dedicated family support coach who works one-on-one with her to apply new skills in her own life and connect her with other community resources such as food assistance, housing, and employment services. Meals, onsite childcare, and transportation are provided to support attendance. All services are available in English and Spanish. 

“Anybody could benefit from this program,” says Izzy, a recent MotherWise graduate who now has a four-month-old daughter. “They teach you how to communicate, especially after you have a baby and everything gets turned upside down as far as the relationships you have around you.”

“We hope to see MotherWise become part of routine prenatal care in our community,” Dr. Galena Rhoades, the Executive Director and a Research Professor at University of Denver, says. “It’s a time in her life and her family’s life where there are so many changes happening, and providing the kind of support we offer has the potential to impact important outcomes later on ­— improving her birth outcomes, improving the family’s stability going forward and really improving the lives of her children in the long term.”

MotherWise’s annual fundraising campaign is centered around Mother’s Day. Want to get involved? Hosting events are a great opportunity to introduce your friends, family, and colleagues to the mission and have fun at the same time. From small fundraising dinners to wine tastings to large-scale golf tournaments, these special events bring together passionate individuals who are interested in supporting local moms as they make bringing up their baby a success. MotherWise is always looking for community sponsors that support our mission through donations of goods or services such as restaurants, construction, furniture stores, and software development. Check out www.motherwisecolorado.org to donate or learn more.