MCLB Barstow  Military and Family Support Center

You may be expecting your first baby or busy with a toddler. That means you have your hands full, and may have questions. Thankfully, help is at hand. The New Parent Support Program is a free service for military parents.

The program focuses on one-on-one support through home visits. Parenting classes and playgroups may also be available at some locations. Staff members include nurses, social workers and home visitation specialists.

Learn more about the New Parent Support Program.

Topics include:

• Bonding
• Breastfeeding support
• Child safety
• Managing demands
• Nutrition
• Positive discipline
• Sleep management
• Support systems

The program’s home visitors understand the challenges of military life. They can share tools for successful parenting during PCS, deployment and more.

The New Parent Support Program is an early intervention service for families who are expecting or have a child 5 years of age or younger. The primary focus of the NPSP is intensive home visitation services tailored to meet the unique needs of each family and help them cope with stress, isolation, deployment, post-deployment reunions and the everyday demands of parenthood. In addition to home visits, expectant parents and parents of newborns and young children can participate in a variety of programs, such as support groups and parenting classes designed to help parents learn new parenting skills and provide an optimal learning environment for their children. Confidential services also offer new and expecting parents the opportunity to express concerns and ask questions.

Behavioral Health is located at Building 218, McTureous Hall. Access is available on the north side of the building from the Marine Corps Exchange parking lot. You can also reach Behavioral Health by phone at 760-577-6533.

These programs and services are available through the Marine Corps New Parent Support Program:

• Baby Boot Camp – These classes provide new and expectant parents with an understanding of an infant's world and the basic skills necessary for loving, safe care. Classes include topics such as breastfeeding, bonding and attachment and self-care.
• Parenting classes – These classes provide hands-on parenting education to support healthy children and positive family relationships. Parenting topics include infant massage, newborn care and discipline.
• Referrals – Assistance with information and referrals link families with appropriate military and community services.
• Play morning – This interactive playgroup helps teach parents about developmentally-appropriate play and helps children improve their social, cognitive and motor skills. Parents must provide signed documentation of their child's immunizations to participate.
• Home visits – Parents receive education and support by a caring professional in the privacy of their home.

These services are available to families regardless of whether they live on or off the military installation. Contact Behavioral Health at 760-577-6533 for more information or visit the Marine Corps Community Services Barstow website for scheduled classes. The NPSP is located at Building 218, McTureous Hall, but most classes are scheduled at Building 363, the Housing Community Center.

New Parent Support Program staff are child development professionals, including registered nurses, clinical social workers, or para-professionals trained in the delivery and practice of established home visiting models. 

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

Contact your Family Advocacy Program office or Military and Family Support Center.

Enrollment is easy. Just call the New Parent Support Program at 760-577-6533 during regular business hours or stop by Building 218. Parking is available at the Marine Corps Exchange. Find the program through MilitaryINSTALLATIONS. Select NPSP and your installation from the drop-down menu.

For more information, go to the Marine Corps Community Services website.

Active duty families expecting a child or with a child under 6 years of age are eligible to participate free of charge in all of the services offered. This program offers expectant parents and parents of newborn and young children the opportunity to learn new skills as parents and to improve old ones. There are often many questions about the needs of infants and young children. The New Parent Support Program is a reliable source for answers to your questions in the privacy of your home.

Even if you’ve been raising your family for a few years, new ages and stages bring different challenges. The NPSP offers you the opportunity to express your concerns and ask questions about babies, young children and family relationships.

Home visits are arranged, when possible, at your convenience. Families can schedule visits so that both parents can be present to learn about being a parent or acquiring new skills in caring for a growing family.

To enroll, please call 760-577-6533 or DSN 312-282-6533, or stop by Building 218.