© 2010 Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois. All Rights Reserved.

Who We are

Founding Director & Clinical Advisor

Sarah Allen, L.C.P.C., D. Clin. Psych. has been the Postpartum Support International coordinator for Illinois since 1998 and in 2001 founded the PPD IL Alliance. She is a psychologist in private practice specializing in treating mood disorders across the lifespan and is a dedicated advocate for women experiencing pregnancy/postpartum mood disorders.

Dr. Allen is a member of the American Psychological Association and British Psychological Society, a volunteer trainer and a consultant to medical practices wanting to have more effective screening/treatment for PPMDs. She has presented at both national and international conferences and has published research on Traumatic Childbirth and Postpartum Depression.

Volunteers

• Lita Simanis, LCSW, has been a Postpartum Support International Illinois coordinator since 2008. She is a helpline volunteer and the email support and resource person for the PPD IL Alliance.  Lita has helped to support and guide women through pregnancy and postpartum at the Alexian Brother PPD program since 2004.
  

• Venessa Nickel is the mother of 2 beautiful children.  She experienced Postpartum Depression with the birth of her second child 6 years ago.  She writes, "I am living proof that with proper treatment and support you can recover from this illness." Vanessa is also an administrator for ppdsupportpage.com  which provides online support and assistance to those dealing with postpartum mood disorders.
  

• Gina Saperstein, mother and M.S.W., is passionate about helping mothers and their families find help.
  

• Lara Vazquez is a homemaker and mother of three.  Her personal experience with PPD occurred while pregnant with her third child.  Frustrated by the lack of information about depression during pregnancy, she credits her children's pediatrician for giving her good advice during pregnancy and nursing.  After discovering that several friends and relatives had been through PPMDs without sharing it, her goal became to be an advocate for PPMDs. 
  

• Katie Ford is a mother of four and a tutor for children with learning disabilities. Katie experienced PPD after the birth of her first child and after her recovery became a helpline volunteer and advocate for other women who have experiences PPMDs. Katie loves to spend time with her kids, be in the outdoors, and volunteer.
  

• Susan Misner.MS, RN, is a mother and grandmother.  She is a past board member of Postpartum Support International and a current PPD IL Alliance phone support volunteer.  As an experienced public health nurse, Sue is a longtime volunteer and advocate for improved mental health services for mothers and families of Illinois and other states.