Infant and New Parent Education Center provides support for parents

California Chapter, Conejo Valley Neighborhood for Learning is expanding its services by opening an Infant and New Parent Education Center at the Crowley House, 2522 Pleasant Way, Thousand Oaks. This center is made possible with the assistance of a Community Award from the March of Dimes.

The purpose of the center is to provide a nonthreatening, casual environment where pregnant women and new parents can come for support, information and camaraderie. Neighborhood for Learning encourages a proactive approach by helping families "do it right, right from the start."

The center will offer a variety of programs and groups, including Lamaze childbirth preparation, infant massage, breastfeeding information, baby care and toddler play groups. All classes are taught by trained and certified staff.

Working with Children First Ventura County, the center will offer infant and toddler developmental screenings free of charge. A Welcome to Fatherhood class, co-sponsored by Community Counseling services of California Lutheran University, is scheduled to begin Feb. 21.

There is also a lending library where parents are encouraged to drop in with questions, borrow a book, watch a video, get breastfeeding assistance or have a friendly chat about parenting.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and during scheduled class times.

Services are open to everyone. While some classes have a small cost, most services are free. There will soon be classes available for Spanish-speaking families and pregnant teens.

Neighborhood for Learning, the FIRST 5 program for the Conejo Valley, also provides four developmentally appropriate preschools and family service centers, summer programs and community events.

For more information and to sign up for classes, call (805) 496-9035.