New Parent Support Program

The New Parent Support Program is a team made up of nurses, social workers and home visitation specialists who offer support and guidance by helping parents:

• Build strong, healthy bonds with their infants and toddlers that will lay the foundation for their social and emotional development
• Manage the demands of parenting, especially when impacted by deployments and other military operations
• Remain flexible and responsive when navigating daily life
• Build a strong support network
• Respond to infant and toddler behavior sensitively and be attuned to their developmental needs
• Find services in the local community in time of need

Learn more about the New Parent Support Program and contact your installation New Parent Support Program office to find out what’s available at your installation.

New Parent Support Program staff are child development professionals, including registered nurses, clinical social workers, and para-professionals trained in the delivery and practice of established home visiting models. The program is supervised and monitored at the installation level by the Family Advocacy program manager.

The program is available to military families who are expecting a baby or have children age 3 or younger. Marine Corps eligibility includes families with at least one child under 5.

Contact your installation New Parent Support Program office or Family Advocacy Program office.

New Parent Support Program (NPSP)

Army Community Service

1591 Bell Richard Ave., Bldg. 920, Fort Johnson, LA 71459

The New Parent Support Program (NPSP) is a free, voluntary service that offers education and support to parents expecting a baby or with a child zero to 36 months of age. Our team of registered nurses (RNs) and social workers (LCSW) understand the stressors of parenting and the unique challenges of raising a family in the military. We provide encouragement and education throughout pregnancy, after delivery, and during all stages of a newborn’s and toddler’s development.

Services offered include:

Home Visitation

• Home visits are provided within a 50-mile radius of Fort Johnson and include education on topics such as preparing for baby, newborn care, breastfeeding, ages and stages of development, home safety, nutrition, sleep issues, potty training, and parenting in the military

Baby Boot Camp (BBC)

• BBC is a hands-on class for expectant parents in their 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy that addresses topics such as bringing baby home, newborn care, diapering, feeding, bathing, and soothing a crying infant

Infant Massage

• These sessions teach the art of infant massage, stages of child development, soothing infants, addressing sleep issues, attachment styles, and relaxation techniques

Play Mornings

• Bi-weekly playdates where parents and their children (ages eight weeks to 36 months) can come together at the Play Town and Café for fun-filled activities.

For more information on the NPSP, services offered, class schedules or to register for classes, please call 337-531-1938/4858.