Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information they need to take care of their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth.
In addition to all the usual important info: like reminders to get your pre-natal doctor’s appointment. There’s a lot of cool info like, did you know at some point – your baby can hear you inside your belly? So they recommend that you sing to your unborn child and every dance. Love that! www.text4baby.org.
Resources:
The Maternity Care Coalition
The mission of Maternity Care Coalition is to improve maternal and child health and wellbeing through the collaborative efforts of individuals, families, providers and communities.
www.momobile.org
Courtesy of the Public School Notebook
Parenting groups are available throughout the city and offer classes for parents of children of all ages.
The booklet, Helping Hands: A Parenting Resource Directory, is available by contacting Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services, 1515 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, (215)-683-4DHS. www.thenotebook.org
Other sources of information on parenting and local programs available online or by phone:
Parent Action Network
215-PARENTS
Department of Human Services:
www.phila.gov/dhs
Search Online for Services
www.phillysos.org
Parenting Questions and Answers
www.parenting-qa.com
Pregnancy and Parenting
Parenting.ivillage.com
Source URL: www.thenotebook.org/spring-2006/06587/parenting-groups
The Children's Advocacy Project
The mission of The Children's Advocacy Project (CAP) is to help bridge the gap between the many quality social service agencies in the Philadelphia area and the families that need their help the most. To bridge this gap, we aim to empower and to inform those that care for the children of Philadelphia through this web site. The CAP will assist families, health care professionals, and social service providers by furnishing the tools necessary to connect families in need to the appropriate social service agencies that serve them.
Healthy Start Programs
Helps families actively engage in, and benefit from health related services- Healthy Start offers support services such as childcare, housing, career and personal development, medical risk assessments and transportation through partnerships with hospitals, social workers, and nurses, working directly with families. North Philadelphia- 215-685-2457, West and Southwest 215-685-5255.
Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance
A Family Strengthening Program that offers various parent support groups, foster parent support groups, support groups for grandparents, incarcerated parents, parents with children in placement. While in meetings children participate in various children’s programs in the same location- Also helps parents who have had a complaint issued against them through DHS know their rights and obligations they have- 800-448-4906. www.pennsylvaniafamilysupportalliance.org
Parent Action Network
The Philadelphia Dept. of Human Services prevention program that offers: free support groups for parents, teens, children and information for parents as well as referrals- 215-PARENTS. www.phila.gov.
Parent University
Help your children with their school work and in life. Classes and workshops for parents, Family Literacy, Financial Literacy, Health/ Wellness&Cultural Enrichment through the School District. Call 215-400-4180 or go to website. - www.philasd.org/parentuniversity
CORA Services
This agency mostly serving families in the North East, provides a variety of services for families- 8540 Verree Road- 215-342-7660 - www.coraservices.org Children's Aid Society of PA-Time Out for Teens and Tots Offers a free 20 week parenting education program designed for teens 15-19 years old, who are caring for their children ages 3 and under- also operates The Family Project that helps all families with young children by offering various career programs, public assistance and food resources, day care referrals and housing information. 1315 Walnut Street. 215-546-2990 - www.caspa.org
Educating Communities for Parenting
Provides a wide variety of Power to Parent workshops for parents including teen mothers and fathers. Classes consist of year long school based programs, 12 week sessions, and assorted short term workshops. Programs focus on helping both parents and their children achieve their full potential. All services are provided free of charge. For information call 215-496-9780 or visit www.ecparenting.org.
Philadelphia Society for Services to Children
Philadelphia Society for Services to Children specializes in helping relatives raise children other then their own (Kids n’ kin Program). Also have: Home-based family support services, family therapy, legal assistance, support groups, kinship workshops, and family advocacy-415 South 15th St.- 215-875-3400 - www.pssckids.org.
Focus On Fathers
Brings together fathers and other men caring for their children in peer groups, outings, and educational workshops- 260 South Broad St.- 267-765-2324 - www.phmc.org/rch/ff.html
Adolescent Violence Reduction Partnership (AVRP)
AVRP is a hands-on, anti-violence collaboration in which Youth Workers are assigned to high-risk youth between the ages of 10 and 15 to protect them from becoming perpetrators or victims of violence. AVRP addresses the needs of youth who meet the following criteria:
Prior arrest under 13 or recently arrested
Have been a victim of a crime
Have a family member or friend who has been killed or has a parent or sibling in jail.
Reside in a house with documented history of child abuse or domestic violence.
Call 215-462-7693 NOW for more information or to refer a youth in need.
MomsRising.org
The MomsRising blog is a soapbox where people across our nation can talk politics, policy, and parenting. The views expressed in these blogs aren't necessarily representative of MomsRising policy positions or active campaigns. www.momsrising.org
