WIA, Roots Family Collaborative launch Blossom Mom Big Sky
EBS STAFF
Beginning in January 2026, new and expecting mothers can take advantage of a helpful resource in Big Sky. Blossom Mom Big Sky will offer weekly peer support sessions every Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Wellness In Action.
The group is organized by Bozeman-based Roots Family Collaborative, hosted in partnership with WIA and made possible by a grant from the Moonlight Community Foundation. Sessions will be facilitated by licensed counselor Julie Grimm, a trained volunteer facilitator with Roots and mother with lived experience, in a confidential, supportive and comfortable space, according to a press release from Roots Family Collaborative.
Sessions aim to foster connection and strengthen each mother’s sense of belonging and resilience. The program is designed to address a longstanding nationwide gap in maternal support by providing a consistent, compassionate space for mothers to connect, share experiences, and build the social and emotional networks essential during this transformational and often challenging time, the release explained.
Common discussion topics include sleep deprivation, feeling overwhelmed, partner relationships, work-life balance, community resources, feeding challenges, shifts in identity and how to reach out for help.
“I am so excited to have a part in bringing trauma-informed support to the Big Sky parenting community and am eager to meet women in Big Sky who are in the perinatal period of their lives and to provide an open and inclusive space for those seeking a bit of care and acknowledgement during this transitional time,” Grimm stated in the release.
Mackenzie Johnson, Roots’ program and partnerships director, started her family in Big Sky and experienced the importance of community and the challenges posed by Big Sky’s seasonal, rural character. The Big Sky program builds off Roots’ success in Park County, where a Blossom Mom group began meeting in 2022.
“Roots is committed to creating spaces where families feel seen, supported, and connected. We’re grateful for our partners who are passionate about bringing this program to Big Sky,” Johnson stated in the release.
Big Sky programs will start with weekly Blossom Mom meetings. In Bozeman, Roots offers a variety of programs including feeding groups, monthly dads groups, pregnancy and infant loss, fertility support and other programs including seasonal Fresh Air Families hiking groups. Johnson hopes to bring more programs to Big Sky.
The Blossom Mom model is “grounded in peer connection and shared experience,” led by trained peer facilitators like Grimm who have personally navigated the perinatal journey and can offer empathy, understanding and a non-judgmental space for meaningful conversation, according to the release.
Kiernan Volden, director of programs for WIA, believes the partnership reflects WIA’s commitment to meeting community members where they are, with resources they need most.
“Through this partnership, we can ensure that families have access to the care, resources, and connection they need to thrive,” Volden stated.
Interested community members are encouraged to reach out to Johnson at mackenzie@rootsfamilycollaborative.com.
