CenteringParenting Program & New Parent Classes

Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia offers one of the largest CenteringParenting® programs in the country and the largest in Pennsylvania. CenteringParenting® is a new free parent program that combines one-on-one child health assessment, interactive learning and community building in a postnatal group setting. Interacting with other families helps create a bond among the group and provides parents with a new network of supporters.

CenteringParenting® Program Structure

Groups of 6-8 babies with birthdays within the same two-week period are brought together for 10 sessions over 2 years with the same physician, along with access to a health educator and social worker. Each early parenting session, which is two hours long, starts with a one-on-one health assessment by a healthcare provider. Moms are actively involved, tracking their baby’s weight and growth, immunizations, postnatal development and oral health. Part of the assessment includes moms weighing themselves and checking their blood pressure since they need to be healthy in order to care for their babies.

Following the assessment, moms, babies, and their support people in the CenteringParenting® program sit in a circle and the session, which is designed to be fun and educational, is led by a pediatric provider in the Philadelphia area. A curriculum is followed and each session of the new parent classes addresses a specific health issue, including breastfeeding, safe sleep habits, discipline, family planning, child development, and more.

Benefits of CenteringParenting®

CenteringParenting® empowers parents with the skills and postnatal education needed to manage their baby’s health as well as their own. Throughout the sessions, patients receive useful parenting items such as breastfeed support tools, scholastic books, infant developmental toys, safety items, and healthy snacks. CenteringParenting® celebrates the babies 12 and 24 months birthdays by having birthday parties with cake and raffle prizes.

We offer many resources available to all CenteringParenting® patients. We also offer individualized patient navigators who help with access to these services and referrals:

• Daycare and childcare resources
• Lactation support with a Certified Lactation Consultant
• Registered Dietician and nutrition counseling
• Dental services at Einstein
• Transportation referrals (Logisticare or SEPTA Tokens)
• Psychiatry services
• LGBTQIA services
• Domestic Violence Counseling
• Public benefits assistance through BenePhilly
• Food assistance through Philabundance and SHARE Food Program

When and where CenteringParenting® Meets

Located at Einstein’s main campus, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, the CenteringParenting® program can be found on the second floor of the Levy building. The classroom is filled with chairs arranged in a circle, a separate private area for health assessments, table full of healthy snacks, and bulletin boards listing information about programs and services in the Philadelphia area. Sessions are held Tuesday - Friday, with morning (9:00 - 11:30am) or afternoon (1:00 - 3:30pm) groups offered.

Request to Join

We invite you to join us at one of our two new early parenting groups that start each month. Call us at 1.800.346.7834 or click the button below to request more information about how Einstein provides parenting support and postnatal education in Philadelphia through the CenteringParenting® program.

Request to Join

Learn more about the system of support for baby and parents at Centering.org. For patients who are still pregnant, learn more about our CenteringPregnancy® program.