Child, Home
& Community
Programs
On July 1st 2017, Child, Home and Community (CHC) merged with Maternity Care Coalition (MCC), bringing two organizations with expertise in maternal and child health together.
CHC’s programming addresses all critical areas needed for parents and their babies to thrive—physically and emotionally—and become healthy and productive members of their communities.
Our programs have four overarching objectives:
School-Based Support/ELECT
Addressing teen parenting issues while the student is in school is vital for a number of reasons, most notably because it plays a significant role in preventing students from dropping out of school. In CHC’s School-Based Programs, young parents meet weekly or biweekly to explore pregnancy, parenting and methods to achieving self-sufficiency. We offer assistance with medical needs, food, clothing and even diapers and formula.
Fatherhood Program
While most programs focus mainly on the needs of mothers, CHC’s Fatherhood Initiative works directly with teenage fathers. Our Fatherhood Coordinator works with students in groups and individually, helping young dads establish paternity, become responsible and caring fathers, and provides them with the resources to obtain work placement to improve job skills. This program is offered through CHC’s School-based ELECT Program.
Education and Career Counseling
CHC’s Road to Independence program assists teen parents in their career development and placement. Our Career Specialist helps students assess their interests and skills, define objectives and plan for life after high school with the goal of securing stable employment at a living wage.
Parenting Education
This program is a classroom excursion into teen pregnancy and parenting for middle and high school Health and Child Development classes. This is an action-oriented program that uses attention-grabbing tools, including the Empathy Belly Pregnancy Simulator:
The students will:
Building the Family
Building the Family (BTF) is a group-based parenting support program offered at six locations in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Parenting groups meet monthly in the evening and welcome pregnant and parenting families with children up to age 5. The groups focus on healthy child development and positive parenting practices, opportunities for families to engage in activities that promote positive parent-child interactions, and support to address parenting challenges and barriers. Each meeting provides critical information and education, vital social connections, and hands-on support to parents.
Childbirth & Newborn
Care Classes
CHILDBIRTH & NEWBORN CARE PROGRAM
Focus on Motherhood, an 8-week program that prepares young expectant moms and dads for childbirth. Unlike other prenatal programs, Focus on Motherhood is designed to meet the needs of adolescents and young adults, ages 13 to 25. This program is FREE.
The following are some of the topics covered in this program:
A minimum of 4 expectant moms is required for the class to be held.
Babysitting 101
Designed for 11-14 year girls and boys who are caring for siblings or neighbors, this 6-hour interactive program is a mix of hands-on activities, classroom participation, lecture and DVD taught by experienced and trained workshop facilitators and healthcare professionals. The cost is $65 per student and all class materials are provided by CHC. We cap this class at 20 so each participant is assured personal attention.
The program includes child care and emergency basics such as:
And also covers business topics, including:
