Debriefing After a Traumatic Perinatal Event: A Practice for Improved Patient and Provider Outcomes
How can building a system for structured debriefing after a traumatic perinatal event improve outcomes and lay the groundwork for resiliency for both patients and healthcare providers?
How can building a system for structured debriefing after a traumatic perinatal event improve outcomes and lay the groundwork for resiliency for both patients and healthcare providers?
Course Information
- Audience: This event is open to public health professionals, the healthcare workforce, community representatives concerned with perinatal health, and university or graduate level students.
- Format: Webinar
- Date/Time: April 23rd, 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET.
- Price: Free
- Length: 1 hour
- Credential(s) eligible for contact
If you are not seeking a CHES/MCHES contact hours, if you complete the post-test and evaluation, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. The Certificate will include the length of the course. NEPHTC is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive up to 1 total Category I continuing education contact hours. Maximum advanced-level continuing education contact hours are 1.
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Competencies: Communications Skill
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Learning Level: Awareness
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Companion Trainings: None
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Supplemental materials: None
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Pre-requisites: None
About this Webinar
As labor and delivery unit closures across Maine continue to shift care delivery, developing practice models to build capacity is essential to support high-quality outcomes for patients and long-term sustainability of the healthcare workforce. This learning event will highlight the importance of evidence-based debriefing as a foundation for healing and resiliency among patients, families, and health professionals after traumatic events and/or loss during pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and during early childhood. Participants will learn practical, standardized approaches and tools to conduct and normalize effective debriefs that improve patient outcomes while reducing provider burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Participants will gain insight from those with lived experience to understand the beneficial impact of debriefing practices.
Learning Objectives
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Articulate the importance of structured debriefing following traumatic perinatal events, including its role in mitigating secondary trauma, supporting provider well-being, and improving patient care outcomes.
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Describe evidence-informed strategies to facilitate effective, trauma-informed debriefing conversations that promote psychological safety, reflection, and shared understanding among care teams.
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Identify key resources and practical tools that support the planning, facilitation, and follow-up of effective debriefing after traumatic perinatal events.
Subject Matter Expert(s)
Kelley Bowden, MS, RN
Kelley Bowden is currently working for the state of Maine, Office of MaineCare Services, as the Perinatal Rural Regional Planning Liaison for the TMAH grant. Kelley began her career in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME, first as a nurse, then as a neonatal nurse practitioner and leading the NICU transport team. In that role, she developed relationships with community hospitals and transitioned to state Perinatal Outreach Education Coordinator. Since retiring in 2021, Kelley has worked on several projects for the state of Maine, including the AIM hypertension bundle implementation, a preterm labor algorithm pilot program, piloting a data collection tool for maternal fetal transports, and as a consultant for the Maternal Mortality Review Committee through fall 2025.
Bekah Elrod
Bekah is a maternal health advocate, former educator, and mother of four who draws from her own near-death experience with severe preeclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, and postpartum anxiety to champion change in maternal care. Her story, featured in USA Today's "Deadly Deliveries" series, has helped raise national awareness about birth trauma and systemic gaps in care. Bekah previously served as the National Program Manager at MoMMA’s Voices where she developed training for and led perinatal quality collaboratives and hospitals to guide them in meaningful integration of patient voices into quality improvement efforts, bridging the gap between clinical care and lived experience. She is passionate about ensuring the lived experience is integrated into healthcare systems and policy decisions. Bekah now serves at the National Engagement Director for Mammha.
SAD DADS CLUB
SAD DADS CLUB began with three friends in Maine, men who formed a strong bond after their daughters were stillborn. Chris, Jay, and Rob found solace in each other, and realized how few resources there are for men grieving their child. Together, they founded SAD DADS CLUB – or the “worst club, best guys.” Today, SDC has members around the world who engage virtually, and in-person – both regionally or during larger bi-annual gatherings in Maine. SDC nurtures a supportive community through non-clinical, peer-to-peer support, and provides access to quality professional mental health services through a variety of networks.
Enrollment and Contact Hours
Select the Enroll button below to register for the course. If you have any trouble accessing the course, contact support@nephtc.org.
Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.This training was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $400,000 with 100% funded by HRSA/HHS and 0% funded by nongovernment source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
* Yale School of Public Health, Office of Public Health Practice, a New England Public Health Training Center partner, is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. All CHES credit inquiries are managed by YSPH
Registration
Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.
Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.