The Team.

Some call her the Fairy Godmother of perinatal mental health, but we just call her Sarah. Sarah Ornst Bloomquist has walked alongside hundreds of struggling moms on the path to feeling better. As Executive Director and Co-Founder, she’s the heart of the organization, which she helped build after struggling to find adequate help for postpartum depression and anxiety following her son’s birth. Sarah transformed her professional experience as a life coach, child advocacy program coordinator and family support specialist for perinatal couples into an organization dedicated to supporting moms navigating perinatal mental health conditions. Sarah is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) and is perinatal mental health certified (PMH-C). As an leader, advocate and speaker, Sarah brings lived experience to her work breaking down barriers to effective treatment and helping moms find hope in the process. Born and raised in the greater Milwaukee area, Sarah is a cheesehead at heart, but spent many treasured years in Indiana. She’s proud mom to two, enjoys playing soccer, hanging out with friends and neighbors, and taking her rescue dogs for hikes.

Bailey Huffman joined Moms Mental Health Initiative as the Resource Brokering Program Manager. Originally from Wisconsin, Bailey attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She recently moved back to Milwaukee after living in the Chicagoland area for the past several years. Bailey brings a decade of experience in nonprofit and social services administration, and has her Masters in Social Work from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. Bailey and her husband, Phil, have a son, a daughter and two rescue dogs. She loves to cook and has been enjoying showing her son all of her favorite Milwaukee restaurants and spots since moving back to the area.

Casey White believes parenthood not only takes a village, but it's our job to build it. That's why MMHI's mission, vision and advocacy drive her each day. Not to mention, prior to joining the staff, Casey utilized Moms Mental Health Initiative’s resources as she navigated her own perinatal mental health journey in 2019. Casey is a retired journalist, who continues to bring advocacy and storytelling to everything she does. She’s a proud Northwestern University Wildcat. Casey and her husband, Drew, moved to Milwaukee in 2015 and now spend their time chasing their 2 rowdy boys. Email marketing and partnership inquiries to casey@mmhimke.org.

Laci Jones Oyler brings her expertise as a mental health provider and community advocate in her new role as Resource Brokering Specialist. For nearly fifteen years, she provided support for women moving through the trauma of interpersonal violence as a counselor and sexual assault and domestic violence advocate. Her most recent position was as a counselor at Alverno College, a liberal arts college for women on Milwaukee’s South Side. When the covid pandemic hit, Laci left her position to begin her journey as a stay-at-home parent, caring for her two young boys full-time. As she reenters the work force, she couldn’t be more excited to connect with and serve other mothers, parents and birthing people. She has a master’s degree in Community Counseling from Marquette University and bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, spending time with her children and husband and attempting to train her new rescue puppy, Larry.

Kersten Larson, Board Vice President, is passionate about elevating women so they can reach their potential. She brings 20 years of experience analyzing publicly traded equities for inclusion in Allspring Global Investment’s mutual funds and separately managed accounts. Kersten’s advocacy for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders started after she shared her experience following the birth of her daughter in a holiday letter to friends and family. Recognizing the impact transparency had on reducing shame and stigma for those who suffered PMADs, including her own, Kersten was driven to be more fearless in telling her story in order to shine a light on common and treatable disorders. Kersten is excited to bring her previous non-profit board experience and desire to supporting women in becoming their best selves to MMHI by continuing to drive MMHI’s mission of helping moms. She is a proud alumna of Ripon College with a degree in economics. Kersten enjoys driving her two children to hockey, going on walking dates with her husband, bringing people together around her kitchen table, and is an unapologetic bookworm.