Mothers feel it first.
Count on Mothers measures it.

We are formalizing three years of national research into the National Benchmark of U.S. Mothers — a recurring, nationally representative measurement of maternal stress, institutional trust, family economic conditions, and the environments shaping children's lives. Wave 1 fields Spring 2026.

Interested in serving as an Anchor Mom Advisor in your state? Learn about Anchor Mom Advisors.

About Count on Mothers

Count on Mothers (CoM) is a national research and insights firm dedicated to systematically measuring the lived experiences, conditions, and priorities of U.S. mothers across regionsWe conduct recurring, nationally representative surveys and qualitative research designed to generate durable national indicators — translating everyday realities into structured insight for leaders shaping family policy, services, and systems.
Our work is grounded in methodological rigor and public transparency, ensuring that mothers’ perspectives are reflected accurately, responsibly, and at scale.

From Lived Experience to National Insight

Mothers across all 50 states contribute to Count on Mothers because their experience belongs in the data shaping decisions about their families. We blend nationally representative surveys with qualitative depth to capture both scale and context — producing public reports and analysis designed to inform measurable action. When patterns emerge consistently across geography, ideology, and background, they become more than opinion. They become indicators — guiding leaders toward solutions grounded in lived reality.

National Reach & Policy Relevance

Count on Mothers research has contributed to federal policy discussions and national public debate. Our findings have been entered into the official Congressional Record on childcare, paid leave, and technology policy — requested directly by U.S. Senators and Representatives for submission — and cited in congressional one-pagers, public statements, and national press. Count on Mothers has informed the work of advocacy organizations, policy coalitions, and industry partners, and is building the standing infrastructure that foundations, health systems, employer coalitions, technology platforms, and the institutions working to strengthen systems serving families can rely on for credible, independent, decision-relevant analysis.

Learn more about partnering with Count on Mothers.

From our Community

Our voice is stronger together.

"A mother’s voice speaks not only for herself, but for our future. Count On Mothers understands that. And it's why I was so thrilled to jump in and help grow the voices of mothers where we need them most."

Gayle Gilman

Los Angeles, CA

"Data is power. I love the idea of the power of mothers. Imagine 90%+ of mothers stating that they know more than 1 child who died by suicide in the last year. Imagine the clarity that legislators cannot ignore if nonpartisan data shows X% of mothers state Y."

Bernardine Wu

New York, NY

"Mothers are an incredibly passionate and dedicated group. Individually we make a difference in the lives around us every day. Collectively, if we raise our voices, we can make a difference on a national level. Count on Mothers harnesses this potential."

Mimi Morningstar

CEO / Creative IT

Our People

We are focused on one purpose: putting real‑time, firsthand data from mothers into the conversations where consequential decisions are made. Through an ongoing program of nationally representative studies, we capture what families are experiencing right now and translate those findings into clear, actionable briefs for advocacy groups, newsrooms, lawmakers, and industry leaders. When mothers’ voices are in the room, policies, products, and practices align more closely, and safely, with what families actually need.

Contact us to get involved. Read our Founder Story.

The Team

Jennifer Bransford
Founder, CEO
Mother of three, Jennifer began her career in film and television. Trade-offs of new motherhood revealed the challenges moms face and how rarely their realities shape policy. She later partnered with researchers to design and implement a theory-based, safe-and-supportive school program in NYC that engaged parents. In 2022, committed to helping families thrive, Jennifer founded Count on Mothers, a research initiative for real-time data, turning moms’ experiences into decision-grade insights for advocacy groups, policymakers, industry leaders, and media.
Melissa Lawrence, MPH
Director of Data Science
Melissa is an epidemiologist and biostatistician specializing in population-level health research and the translation of complex data into actionable insight. Her expertise spans study design, statistical analysis, and the application of rigorous quantitative methods to questions of public health and family wellbeing. At Count on Mothers, she leads the data science function — overseeing weighting, sampling integrity, and analytic approach across all waves of the National Benchmark and partner research. Mother of a five-year-old and a one-year-old, Melissa brings both methodological discipline and lived maternal experience to the work.
Jennifer Brailsford, PhD
Director of Research
Jennifer is an interdisciplinary researcher with a PhD in Medical Sociology and nearly a decade of experience bridging academic rigor and real-world application in the study of child health and family wellbeing. Her research portfolio spans study design, mixed-methods data collection, qualitative analysis, and publication in peer-reviewed venues. At Count on Mothers, she leads the research function — designing the core survey instruments, overseeing qualitative integration, and ensuring findings meet the standards expected of nationally representative research. A new mother, Jennifer brings both scholarly depth and firsthand understanding of the questions the Benchmark is built to answer.
Lauren Prentiss
Head of Strategy & Partnerships
Mother of two, Lauren brings more than 15 years of experience in global customer insights, research, and strategy. She has worked across agency, consulting, and independent settings to develop insight-led strategies and support organizations ranging from startups to long-established institutions, including public-sector partners. At Count On Mothers, she focuses on expanding impact through industry and sponsor partnerships and research briefings, helping ensure mothers’ lived experiences inform clear, decision-ready actions.

Anchor Mom Advisors

Anchor Mom Advisors are a nationwide group of mothers across the political spectrum who bring regional context and lived experience into our research. They advise on survey design, help interpret findings, and provide grounded insight into what families are experiencing locally.



Our nationally representative surveys ensure statistical rigor; Anchor Moms ensure our work stays rooted in real, everyday family life. Each is committed to making mothers’ firsthand knowledge visible in decisions affecting children’s safety, health, and well-being.

Learn about becoming an Anchor Mom Advisor.

New Release
AI & Child Safety:
Mothers' Views on a Rising Influence in Kids' Lives

We're grateful to the thousands of U.S. mothers who shared their firsthand experiences and perspectives. This national study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Dana Suskind (University of Chicago) and Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr (University College London). Dissemination and advisory partners include MAMA (Mothers Against Media Addiction), Institute for Families and Technology, and Scrolling2Death.

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Work With Us

Partner with Count on Mothers

If the well-being of families and the trust of mothers matter to your organization’s decisions, we welcome a conversation about how independent, nationally representative research can help you listen more clearly and act with greater confidence.
Learn more