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.

All New Parent Support services are free and part of your Navy benefits for parents with newborn children up to the age of 4. All expecting and new parents are eligible, even if this is not your first baby. First priority is given to families with a deployed active-duty member as well as single active-duty members.

To enroll or access more information, contact the office at 619-556-8809 and ask for an NPS consultant.

NPS provides information, resource referrals, education and home visiting services. NPS Home Visitors can teach you infant massage and perform ages and stages developmental screeners for your child.

Healthy Start Military Family Cluster and Social Advocates for Youth San Diego offer Dads Corps, a program for military fathers with newborn children up to age 5. Sessions last for six to eight weeks. Free dinner is always provided, as well as free personal visits, screenings, free gas cards, free movies and free child care if needed. Groups fill up fast, call 858-565-4148 for more information.

The Command Naval Region Southwest Fleet and Family Support Center at NB San Diego provides various workshops and information for new parents. The Effective Parenting class includes building positive communication skills, teaching how and when to use effective discipline techniques, and encouraging your child to develop responsible and healthy attitudes. Additionally, the Active-Duty Pregnancy Resource Workshop, designed for pregnant active-duty members, explains rights and responsibilities under the pertaining Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction guideline and provides the opportunity to learn about available resources and basic financial management. Call your F&FSC for details.

Naval Medical Center's Health and Wellness Department provides the following workshops for new parents: Boot Camp for New Dads, Mom's Survival Training and Newborn Care, and a sibling class for new sisters and brothers. For more information, contact the pediatric department at Naval Medical Center by calling 619-881-9165.