Instructions for Authors

About MFMH

MFMH: A Publication on Maternal & Family Mental Health is an open-access publication of the HLC Maternal & Family Mental Health Research Center. The publication serves as a platform for sharing scholarship, practice insights, community perspectives, and innovative approaches related to maternal, family, and community mental health.

MFMH welcomes submissions from researchers, practitioners, educators, students, healthcare professionals, advocates, policymakers, and community leaders.

Areas of Interest

MFMH welcomes submissions related to:

• Maternal Mental Health

• Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health

• Family Mental Health

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health

• Rural Health

• Black Maternal Health

• Health Equity

• Community-Based Participatory Research

• Human Services

• Social Work

• Counseling and Therapy

• Public Health

• Family Advocacy

• Caregiver Well-Being

• Family Resilience

• Behavioral Health Access

• Maternal and Child Health Programs

• Community-Based Interventions

• Workforce Development

• Prevention and Early Intervention

Manuscript Categories

Original Research Articles

Original quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, evaluation, or community-based research.

• Word Count: 3,000–8,000 words

• Peer Reviewed: Yes

• DOI Assigned: Yes

Literature Reviews

Comprehensive reviews of existing research and evidence.

• Word Count: 2,500–6,000 words

• Peer Reviewed: Yes

• DOI Assigned: Yes

Practice Articles

Articles focused on program implementation, practice innovations, lessons learned, or professional applications.

• Word Count: 1,500–4,000 words

• Peer Reviewed: Yes

• DOI Assigned: Yes

Research Briefs

Short reports of pilot studies, program evaluations, emerging findings, or preliminary research.

• Word Count: 1,000–2,500 words

• Peer Reviewed: Yes

• DOI Assigned: Yes

Commentaries

Thought-provoking perspectives on current issues, policy matters, or emerging topics.

• Word Count: 800–2,000 words

• Peer Reviewed: Yes

• DOI Assigned: Yes

Book Reviews

Reviews of books relevant to maternal, family, or community mental health.

• Word Count: 800–1,500 words

• Peer Reviewed: Editorial Review

• DOI Assigned: Yes

MFMH Conversations

Professionally edited interviews with researchers, healthcare professionals, advocates, educators, policymakers, and community leaders.

• Word Count: Flexible

• Peer Reviewed: No

• DOI Assigned: No

Community Voices

Personal reflections and lived experience narratives from community members, caregivers, students, parents, and providers.

• Word Count: 500–2,000 words

• Peer Reviewed: Editorial Review

• DOI Assigned: No

Manuscript Formatting Requirements

Authors should submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).

Manuscripts should include:

• Title

• Author Name(s)

• Author Affiliation(s)

• ORCID ID(s) (if available)

• Author Biography (50–150 words)

• Corresponding Author Contact Information

• Abstract (150–250 words)

• 3–5 Keywords

• Main Text

• References

• Tables and Figures (if applicable)

Formatting guidelines:

• 12-point Times New Roman font

• Double-spaced

• 1-inch margins

• Page numbers included

• APA 7th Edition formatting

Abstract Requirements

All DOI-bearing scholarly submissions must include an abstract.

The abstract should:

• Briefly summarize the purpose

• Describe the methods or approach

• Summarize key findings or insights

• Highlight implications or significance

Recommended length: 150–250 words.

Reference Style

MFMH follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 7th Edition.

Authors are responsible for ensuring all citations and references are accurate and complete.

Whenever available, authors are encouraged to include DOI information within references.

Tables, Figures, and Images

Tables, figures, photographs, and graphics should:

• Be clearly labeled

• Include captions

• Be submitted in high-resolution format

• Include source attribution when applicable

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted materials.

Author Identification Requirements

All authors of DOI-bearing scholarly publications must provide:

• Full Name

• Professional Credentials (if applicable)

• Institutional or Organizational Affiliation

• Professional Email Address

• Short Biography

• ORCID iD

ORCID registration is free and may be obtained through the ORCID Registry.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors must disclose any financial, professional, organizational, or personal relationships that could influence the content of their submission.

If no conflicts exist, authors should indicate:

The author(s) declare no conflicts of interest.

AI Disclosure Requirements

Authors who utilize artificial intelligence tools in manuscript preparation must disclose their use at the time of submission.

Examples include:

• Draft generation

• Editing assistance

• Grammar correction

• Content organization

• Data summarization

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of submitted work.

AI tools may not be listed as authors.

Human Subjects and Ethical Considerations

Research involving human participants should indicate:

• Whether Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was obtained

• Whether informed consent was obtained when applicable

• Any relevant ethical safeguards used during the research process

Community-based and program evaluation submissions should describe ethical considerations when appropriate.

Submission Process

Authors should submit:

1. Manuscript

2. Author Information Form

3. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

4. AI Disclosure Statement (if applicable)

5. Any supplemental materials

Review Process

Initial Editorial Screening

1–2 weeks

The Editorial Team reviews submissions for scope, quality, formatting, and completeness.

Peer Review

2–4 weeks

Eligible scholarly manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review by at least two reviewers.

Revision Period

2–4 weeks

Authors may be invited to revise and resubmit based on reviewer feedback.

Final Decision

Approximately 1 week

The Editorial Team makes the final publication decision.

Author Rights

Authors retain copyright of their work.

Authors grant MFMH a non-exclusive license to publish, archive, preserve, and distribute accepted manuscripts.

Authors may share and archive published works with proper citation to the original publication.

Questions?

For questions regarding submissions, peer review, or publication policies, please contact:

MFMH Editorial Office
HLC Maternal & Family Mental Health Research Center

Email:publication@hlcresearchcenter.org

Website:www.hlcresearchcenter.org