Welcome to STEP! Supporting the Transition to and Engagement in Parenthood
- Mar 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Interested in participating in STEP? Fill out this 5 minute self-assessment survey to see if it’s right for you! https://uregina.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cXZwzwQXY0LAvvo
Description
STEP is a 9-week program designed to offer support, guidance, and tools during pregnancy for those who experienced significant stress, hardship, or trauma in their childhood. STEP aims to help expecting parents develop skills to manage emotions and strong feelings, learn about mindfulness, learn how our brains develop - especially in response to traumatic experiences - and reflect on how past experiences can impact the present. The goal is to promote healthy bonding and attachment between parents and infants, and to support healthy infant development.
Who can Participate?
Anyone who at the time of the program will be between 18-28 weeks pregnant, and who experienced significant stress during childhood (ex., poverty, parental issues, abuse, neglect). We are seeking participants who are:
At least 18 years old
A Saskatchewan resident
Currently pregnant (first or second trimester)
Ready to reflect on childhood experiences (*details WILL NOT have to be shared)
Willing to complete confidential research questionnaires to make sure the fit with the program is good, and that it is meeting its goals.
**Participants will be provided with an honorarium for each STEP session they attend.
STEP involves two main parts:
Clinical - the STEP program itself. Two trained clinicians will guide groups of 5-6 individuals through the content and activities of each 2-hour session, in person or over Zoom. The groups will likely be offered in spring/early summer.
Research - before, during, and after the program. Some participants may want to join a focus group at the end to discuss in more detail their experiences of STEP involvement.
Program Goals:
Develop expecting parents’ skills in managing emotions, reflecting on how the past impacts the present, and learning mindfulness strategies.
Support the well-being of expecting parents through connection with group members and community support.
Support bonding and attachment between parents and infants.
Promote healthy fetal/infant/child development.
Program Structure:
Duration: 9 weeks.
Frequency: 2-hour sessions held once a week.
Group Size: 5-6 participants per group (groups size may vary).
Delivery Options: Sessions will be held online over Zoom, or in-person (currently in-person groups are only available in Regina; location to be confirmed.
Program Content:
The STEP Program begins with an Introductory Session, to meet the Program Facilitators and other group participants. This session will include an overview of the program content and the importance of emotional well-being during the transition to parenthood.
The rest of the program consists of 3 modules that will be covered over the 8 remaining sessions:
Module 1: Becoming a Parent - Explore and normalize feelings that occur during pregnancy.
Module 2: Looking at My Story - Reflect on childhood adversity/trauma (it is not expected that these details are discussed in the group), emotions and pregnancy, and think about the upcoming parenting experience.
Module 3: Looking Forward - Explore needs and strengths, prepare for the emotional challenges in parenting, and how these can impact our infants. Provide connection and community!
Program Development:
The concept and content of STEP was created by Dr. Nicolas Berthelot and Dr. Roxanne Lemieux in Quebec, Canada. In addition to their and their research team’s clinical expertise, STEP was shaped by perspectives from parents, early program participants, frontline service providers, and other stakeholders. Learn more at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières webpage:
This is the first time a pilot study of the STEP program will be offered in Saskatchewan. Led by Dr. Lise Milne and her University of Regina research team, STEP will be evaluated to determine how helpful and effective participants find it.
Interested in participating in STEP? Fill out this 5 minute self-assessment survey to see if it’s right for you! https://uregina.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cXZwzwQXY0LAvvo
If you are not interested or know you cannot participate in a group but would like to participate in other aspects of the study, please contact us for more information.
Adrienne Ratushniak (Project Coordinator): Adrienne.Ratushniak@uregina.ca
Dr. Lise Milne (Principal Investigator): Lise.Milne@uregina.ca
This project has been approved on ethical grounds by the University of Regina Research Ethics Board (#674) and has received Operational Approval from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (OA-UofR-2024-674). Questions about your rights as a participant may be addressed to the committee at (306) 585-4775 or research.ethics@uregina.ca.
