Alma Project for
Maternal Mental Health
Alma is a free peer-delivered program that provides community care and connection for new mothers, parents, and caregivers.
Alma’s services are offered to families who are expecting or have children three years old or younger. Our program specializes in supporting new parents, grandparents, caregivers, and guardians who have been feeling stressed, anxious, sad, or lonely—as well as those who are looking to form deeper connections in their community.
Alma teaches personal skills that are proven to help parents feel more resiliency and ease, while connecting them to a wide range of external support and resources. Alma community companions have diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences, offering services in English, Spanish, Somali, and Vietnamese.
Parenting isn’t meant to be done alone. Alma is a place of nurturing and belonging where you and your children can grow and thrive in community.
Home Visits
When you enroll in Alma, you receive 7–10 home visits from a community companion who is trained in postpartum wellbeing, including lactation support, early childhood development, parenting skills, and best practices for home safety.
Alma community companions meet with families in their homes, at Alma’s office in Southwest Denver, or at a public location like a library or café, depending on each family’s comfort and convenience.
Home visits are usually scheduled once a week or every other week, but can be arranged as frequently as needed. These visits include:
Learning and practicing the Alma skills for parents and caregivers
Engaging in activities that promote personal and family health and wellbeing
Connecting to resources in the community, like labor and delivery preparation classes, postpartum mental health services, and early childhood education resources
Supporting parent-child relationships through activities with little ones, relationship problem-solving, educational materials, and more
Our service area is Southwest Denver and Lakewood, Edgewater, Wheat Ridge, and Arvada communities in Jefferson County, Colorado. The geographical boundaries are from I-70 to I-285 (north/south) and I-25 to Wadsworth Boulevard (east/west), plus the cities of Wheat Ridge and Arvada.
Activities at Alma
Community Baby
Shower
Tutoring English Classes
Clothing and Diaper Distribution
Alma Kids
Circle of Security Classes for Parents (COSP)
In addition to receiving 7–10 home visits, Alma participants are invited to a wide range of activities and resource-sharing events at our office in Southwest Denver. These include:
Weekly Alma Kids: Parents with kids can listen cuenta cuentos, play, sing, make art and craft, have healthy cooking classes, and participate in seasonal community gardening and learning together.
Weekly clothing and diaper distribution.
Weekly English skills classes.
Weekly Cafecitos: A space for supportive conversation in a safe environment, in partnership with Cuenta Conmigo.
COSP: Circle of Security Parenting is a relationship-based parenting program (Currently offered in Spanish twice a year and soon will be offered in Somali/English).
Monthly events.
Twice annual community Baby Shower for celebrating all moms!
A History of Our Work
The Alma Project for Maternal Mental Health is operated by Lifespan Local, who gathered a group of community and maternal health experts in 2019 with the goal of identifying the best program for Southwest Denver parents and families with young children. Our community workgroup (now called the Wisdom Council) studied over 12 evidence-based interventions, considering adaptability for cultural and community-based implementation. They chose the Alma Program.
Alma was developed at the University of Colorado Boulder by a team of researchers, mental health providers, community members, and—most importantly—parents. Alma was designed to support mothers experiencing peri- and post-partum depression by providing peer support and tools to implement behavioral activation in their lives. Behavioral activation is the idea that actions can lead to changes in mood. It has been shown to be an effective treatment when dealing with depression, anxiety, and stress. For Southwest Denver, we have linguistically translated and culturally adapted the interventions to best support the community.
Questions?
Reach out to solangel@lifespanlocal.org if you want to learn more, talk with a companion, or to sign up.
Address
3831 W. Custer Place
Denver, CO 80219
Our Team
Solangel Ramos
Bilingual Project Director, Alma Project
Solangel grew up in Venezuela and moved to the United States in 2018. As an immigrant, Solangel understands the hardships and challenges one faces coming from a different country and finding the sense of belonging.
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Solangel obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Experimental National University of Tachira in Venezuela. In 2021 she graduated from Family Leadership Training Institute of Colorado obtaining curriculum supporting families and children. Now she is part of the Colorado Community Leader Advisory Committee.
Her drive to continue to create active and sustainable communities has led her to participate as a community outreach coordinator to assist with the COVID vaccines sites with Jefferson County (JCPH) Health Department during the pandemic.
Solangel continues to thrive through passion and dedication she gives to the programs and community she is part of. With her new position as the Bilingual Project Director, she is leading her team to support families and create stronger diverse communities. Solangel is a person who likes to learn and be able to give her best in everything she does with love and care.
Email: solangel@lifespanlocal.org
Stephanie Vigil
Alma Peer Mentor – Spanish Speaking
Stephanie was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She received her GED at Community College of Denver.
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Prior to Alma, Stephanie worked as a CNA for special needs children and as an advocate for the Denver Public School Board Stephanie is an Alma Peer Mentor for Spanish-speaking families. She started as a volunteer at Lifespan Local with diaper distribution, and she joined the team as an employee! She is a very driven, loving person who is passionate about helping others in any way she can. She is a wife and mother of two teenage daughters. Some of her favorite hobbies include taking walks, cooking, learning new recipes, and most of all, spending time with her family.
Email: stephanie@lifespanlocal.org
Adriana Rubiano
Spanish Speaking Peer Mentor
As a mother of two daughters and immigrant from Colombia, Adriana understand the needs of women that come to the United States, regardless of the reasons that brings them here.
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She has been married for 36 years, 32 of them living in USA.
Adriana is passionate, dedicated, energetic and has a heart that goes to the children. Her life’s focus is having a service-oriented spirit, and that’s how Adriana found herself at Lifespan Local.
Adriana studied Economic and Social science in college in Colombia. She also holds a certificate of marriage facilitator from Prepare and Enrich and a certificate of Circles of Security facilitator from Circles of Security International.
Adriana loves reading, learning and teaching. She is delighted to serve those who need help and a tender hand. Adriana knows we have ears to hear, hands to work, and a heart to love. Family is important for Adriana, and taking care of others is just an expression of that.
Email: adriana@lifespanlocal.org
Leyla Abdi
Somali Speaking Peer Mentor
Leyla is originally from Somali. She's been here for 11 years. Leyla is the peer mentor for the Somali Speaking families, as well as any African and Middle Eastern families who speak English.
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She graduated from Metropolitan State University with a degree of entrepreneurship and accounting. Shes plans to be an entrepreneur and open a community center. Leyla also plans to go back to school to get her PhD in Mental Health.
Her favorite hobbies are cooking, playing tennis, and working out.
She is an adventurous person who loves to take risks and try new things, such as trying new foods from different cultures and exploring many new things. Leyla grew up in a diverse community hence why she enjoys being around different communities.
One of Leyla’s all-time favorite quotes is “ فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًlا ( So undoubtedly, along with hardship there is ease. Undoubtedly, along with hardship there is ease”
Email: leyla@lifespanlocal.org
