Parenting & Family Support

Nurturing Family Program

Eligibility

Walden provides parenting classes for San Bernardino County families who have children under 5 years old.  We offer classes for families in San Bernardino City, Central Valley, and East Valley. Classes are offered at Walden’s San Bernardino office, in community locations, and at local high schools and educational facilities.

Our work is made possible through the generous funding of First 5 San Bernardino County.

What We Do

Walden helps families develop the skills to nurture their children during a FREE 16-week parenting classes using the evidence-based  Nurturing Family curriculum.

Through classes, families build self-awareness, self-esteem, empathy, and the skills to communicate and resolve problems in ways that promote children’s physical, social, and emotional development.  Our classes are also offered in Spanish, in a group setting, in home, or one-on-one, as needed. Participants also have the option to bring their children to participate in our child enrichment program. Snacks and incentives are provided at each meeting.

Due to current COVID guidelines all classes are currently provided via Zoom.

Program graduates receive Certificate of Completion and gifts at the end program.

Why It Matters

Families and communities are engaged, supported, and strengthened through resources and opportunities that assist them in nurturing, caring, and providing for their children’s success and well-being.  Our work focuses on breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect.

Recognition of Our Work

In June 2020, Walden Family Services was invited by Loma Linda University (LLU) to join their state research study: A Multi-Component Intervention to Strengthen Families and Build Youth Resilience.

Nurturing Families Program Director Dr. Kim Kimpel will serve as co-investigator on the project that focuses on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and social determinants of health. As part of the research grant, Walden will provide Nurturing Families skills development and structured case management to families with children 0–11 years old living in San Bernardino County.

LLU was one of only seven awardees for the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine, Addressing Health Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences through a Collaborative Precision Medicine Approach.

This investment is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s California Comeback Plan to transform the state’s behavioral health system for children and youth into an innovative, prevention-focused system. This is also a priority of California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, who aims to cut ACEs and toxic stress in half within a generation.