Overview

Military life presents some unique parenting challenges that civilian families may not face, such as frequent deployments, long duty hours, moves to unfamiliar locations, and separation from extended families and friends. The New Parent Support Program (NPSP) was developed to help military families who are expecting and/or have young children adapt to parenthood and thrive as healthy families no matter where their service may take them.

Research shows that the first three years of child development are critical. The NPSP was established by federal law to help prevent child maltreatment by building strong and healthy military families. Program benefits are available to military families who are expecting a child and/or who have a child or children up to three years of age (five years of age for the Marine Corps).

All Services are required by Congress to provide, at minimum, home visits for families at high risk for child abuse. The NPSP varies by Service and installation and may also include:

• supervised playgroups
• parenting classes
• access to books, booklets, and other written materials on parenting

In addition, program participants have access to trained staff that can answer their parenting questions and/or refer them to other appropriate resources.  Although high-needs families have first priority for services, all eligible families are generally welcome to participate in programs as resources allow.

The NPSP is designed to be flexible, allowing families to take advantage of the resources that best meet their needs.  For example, an expectant family with many stressors or challenges might benefit from home visits by a trained NPSP professional. NPSP providers are in a unique position to observe a family's dynamics and help address needs before they exceed the family's ability to cope.  Whereas, a family with toddlers and few current stressors or challenges may benefit from joining a playgroup.