New Parent Support Program

The New Parent Support Program at Camp Pendleton is a professional team of marriage and family therapists, licensed social workers and registered nurses. The team provides assistance, education and support to our Marine Corps families by offering in-home visits, parenting education classes, information, and referrals for active-duty personnel and their family members. Through a variety of programs, New Parent Support can help families adjust to having a new baby, cope with stress, isolation, pre and post deployment, reunification, and the everyday demands of parenting in the military.

What if we are not new parents?

New ages and stages in child development bring different challenges. The New Parent Support Program offers you the opportunity to express your concerns and ask questions about babies, young children and family relationships.

Who is eligible for services?

All active duty personnel and family members who are expecting a child or have at least one child under the age of 6 are eligible.

Parent Benefits

• Be prepared for parenthood
• Become more confident
• Understand your child’s development
• Develop common ground with your spouse in the area of parenting
• Improve your relationship with your children
• Make parenting fun
• Be a better parent to your children
• Feel more at home in the military community

Home Visits

Home visits can take place in the home, the New Parent Support office or any other convenient and comfortable location. The evidence based Nurturing Parenting curriculum is utilized during home visits. Home visit topics may include:

• Age appropriate discipline
• Age appropriate play
• Effective communication
• Stress management
• Nutrition
• Deployment issues
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Newborn care
• Sibling rivalry
• Toilet training
• and much more.

Baby Boot Camp

This is a fun and interactive class for expectant active duty personnel and their partners. Baby Boot Camp covers everything a parent needs to know to take care of their newborn, as well as, information on resources for the whole family, including:

• The role of a parent
• Developmental stages of infants
• Basic infant care
• Child safety
• Pre and postpartum emotions

Classes are held monthly between 9am-4pm. Please call for dates, registration, and class location.

Parenting Classes

A 9-week, court approved Parenting Class series for parents with children under the age of 6.

Topics:

• Safety
• Communication
• Discipline
• Self-esteem
• Family Structure

All classes must be completed within one year to receive a certificate of completion. Please call New Parent Support for class dates, location and times.

What can the New Parent Support Program do for me?

This program offers expectant parents and parents of young children the opportunity to learn new skills and to build on and improve old ones. There are often many questions about the needs of infants and young children. The program is a reliable resource for questions either in the classroom or in the privacy of your home.