Nurture PA Mentoring Program Provides Lifeline for New Moms

Nonprofit connects experienced mothers with new moms to offer support, advice, and access to resources.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Nurture PA, a nonprofit organization in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is providing a vital support system for new mothers by pairing them anonymously with experienced mentor moms. These mentors offer emotional support, practical advice, and connections to helpful services, all through discreet text message conversations. The program has already helped hundreds of mothers, boosting their confidence and reducing stress during the challenging early years of parenting.

Why it matters

New motherhood can be an isolating and overwhelming experience, but Nurture PA is addressing this by leveraging the wisdom and compassion of seasoned parents. By creating these anonymous mentor-mentee relationships, the program is strengthening families and building a community of support, which research shows is crucial for maternal and child wellbeing.

The details

Nurture PA matches new mothers with peer mentors who have raised young children. The mentors provide emotional support, practical advice, and connections to resources, all through discreet text message conversations. In 2025 alone, the program facilitated over 66,000 texts between mentors and mentees. Participants report feeling more confident as parents and experiencing less stress in their lives.

  • Nurture PA was founded as part of Allegheny County's 'Hello Baby' program.
  • In 2025, the program facilitated over 66,000 text messages between mentors and mentees.

The players

Nurture PA

A nonprofit organization in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that provides a mentoring program to connect new mothers with experienced peer mentors.

Savanna Carpenter

A mother of five children who has benefited from Nurture PA's mentoring program, describing her mentor as empathetic and helpful.

Susan Crookston

The Executive Director of Nurture PA, who emphasizes the importance of human wisdom and compassion in supporting new mothers.

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What they’re saying

“She's just going to understand. She's going to give me the best advice that she can, and that's all. No other strings attached.”

— Savanna Carpenter, Nurture PA Mentee (cbsnews.com)

“There's nothing that replaces human wisdom and human compassion.”

— Susan Crookston, Executive Director, Nurture PA (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Nurture PA is looking to expand its successful mentoring model to other communities across the country, building on the program's impact in the Pittsburgh area.

The takeaway

Nurture PA's innovative approach to supporting new mothers by connecting them with experienced peer mentors demonstrates the power of community-based solutions to address the challenges of early parenthood. By fostering these anonymous, yet deeply impactful relationships, the program is helping to reduce maternal stress and isolation, ultimately strengthening families and communities.