Raising a family is a full-time job and sometimes you need a little help. What do you do when you bring baby home? How do you handle a child that doesn't want to go to bed or take a bath? What are the best ways to communicate with a teenager?

Bon Secours and Commonwealth Parenting can give you the help—and advice—that you need to better understand child rearing. Through education, support, and skill development, Bon Secours and Commonwealth Parenting have partnered to offer a wide range of classes and workshops for nurturing every age group and managing parents' stress.

A non-profit education and resource organization, Commonwealth Parenting has provided education, guidance, encouragement, and support to families in the Richmond area since 1984. Commonwealth Parenting Family Educators empower parents, grandparents, extended family members, and caregivers to learn and develop skills to assist them in raising healthy children. Programs are designed to help parents gain the skills and confidence they need as they support and guide their children. Family Educators have backgrounds in teaching, social work, psychology, and counseling.

Convenient Locations

Classes and workshops are conveniently located citywide, including at the Bon Secours Center for Family Health in Innsbrook. Classes are available during the day, evenings, and at night for a modest fee. Commonwealth Parenting provides program assistance to families with limited resources.

With a core foundation of parent-centered curriculums, classes are offered to parents-only groups. Parents of infants (up to one year) may bring their children for hands-on skill development. Commonwealth Parenting also offers one-on-one counseling to address parents' concerns confidentially.

Support When You Need It

Commonwealth Parenting provides more than class time. When you need an ear or expert advice on child rearing, help is just a phone call away. You can reach Commonwealth Parenting's support line at (804) 545-1928. A member of the family education staff is available to answer your questions or make recommendations for additional support. If your call is after work or in the evening, a staff member will call you back within 24 hours.

Visit Commonwealth Parenting online to learn more about the array of services and various levels of support. You can register for classes online too — it's quick and easy. With the guidance, encouragement, and counsel of our Family Educators, families in Central Virginia are becoming stronger and more resilient every day.

For more information on Commonwealth Parenting, please call (804) 545-1272 or go to www.commonwealthparenting.org.