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.

The New Parent Support Program (NPSP) services are personalized and tailored to fit your family's specific needs. NPSP is a support service and participation is voluntary. Home visitors are sensitive to the unique challenges and stressors facing military families. The program promotes healthy families through a variety of services including home visitations, support groups, and parenting classes. The program helps service members and families learn to cope with stress, isolation, post-deployment reunions, and the everyday demands of parenthood. Military families who are expecting a child or who have children up to age three can participate in our services confidentially and free of charge.

Home Visitations: We offer parents the opportunity to improve their skills as parents and to learn new parenting skills. There are often many questions about children's needs and behaviors as well as how to manage them. The NPSP is a personalized and effective resource for parents. The NPSP travels to homes within 50 miles of JBLM. Please call 253-967-7409 to request services and a home visitor will contact you to schedule an initial visit.

Parenting Classes: NPSP offers parenting classes free of charge to eligible patrons on a range of topics. For a full list of upcoming classes and to register, please call 253-967-5901.

Support Group: "All About That Bump” Pregnancy Support Group- a pregnancy support group for women 1- 40 weeks pregnant and their significant other. This group provides a forum for expecting mothers and their significant others to meet, discuss, and learn about topics surrounding pregnancy. Join and learn about local resources and gain pregnancy tips.

Playgroups: Family focused interactive group for parents and children through the age of 3 years old. The playgroups encourage caregivers and children to interact with one another through crafts and organized activities. While participating in these fun activities, caregivers can focus on developing positive communication skills while supporting their children's social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development. The group also serves as a great place for parents to connect with one another and begin building a local support network. Please call 253-967-7409 to find out more about NPSP playgroups.