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Postpartum Depression is a major issue that has great impact on women who have had a child.  Literature states that 1 in 8 women experience some degree of Postpartum Depression.  In 2003, AWHONN issued a Clinical Position Statement on “The Role of the Nurse in Postpartum Depression” that increased the awareness of Postpartum Depression in Maternal/Child Healthcare.  The position statement addresses issues with screening, symptom identification, providing information and giving women appropriate referral services.             We began our Postpartum Depression journey in October 2007.  Valerie Butler, manager of our postpartum unit, attended the 2007 ANCC National Magnet Conference.  A poster presentation on Postpartum Depression Screening sparked her interest in starting a program on her unit.  Collaborating with the Education Department to begin Postpartum Depression Screening revealed that there was little to no support within our community for these women.  The first step in our journey was to identify resources within the community to help these women in need.  The screening program had to be put on hold until a plan for support services could be developed.            The committee identified the need for more education on Postpartum Depression to providers, nursing staff, patients and their families.  Three questions were added to our discharge instructions that address Postpartum Depression, with instructions to notify their physician immediately if they answered “yes” to any of the three questions.  Additional information and resources were placed in the “Good Beginnings” book which is given to each patient and contains information on how to care for themselves and their baby.  The Education Department began offering a one hour contact class on the subtle signs and risk factors for Postpartum Depression. This class was mandatory for all staff of the postpartum unit and opened to other units in the hospital.  The class is offered every quarter to capture those who are new to the facility.            Appropriate follow up and support must also be available to women after they have been identified as a risk for depression and a Task Force was developed to address this need.  The task force consisting of a liaison from Healthy Start, Executive Director of Healthy Families and Winter Haven Hospital Regency Center for Women and Infants was formed to begin work on developing a support group called “Understanding the Moods of Motherhood.”  A mini-grant was awarded from Heartland for Children to help with support resources.            A risk assessment tool has been identified for use in screening patients.   A one hour class on the warning signs of Postpartum Depression was developed to offer staff of Obstetrician’s and Pediatrician’s offices in our community to assist in screening new mothers for late onset depression.  Members of the taskforce have appeared on community television broadcasts to educate the community, mothers and their families about Postpartum Depression.            In conclusion, our two year journey has brought staff and patients more education and a support group for those women who are in need of help.  Hopefully, our initiatives will not only benefit our facility but our community.