MCLB Barstow  Military and Family Support Center

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.

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 MCLB Barstow website for scheduled classes. The NPSP is located at Building 218, McTureous Hall, but many classes are scheduled at Building 363, the Desert View Housing Community Center.

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.

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.

For more information go to the Marine Corps Community Services website. Program includes scheduled play days, crafts, parenting classes and more.

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 enter the north facing door at Building 218.