Parenting Center
The Parenting Center provides families with the support, guidance, and enrichment needed to raise young children in the city. LGBTQ and straight, couples and single parents, Jewish and non-Jewish, biological and adoptive, people of all colors and abilities — all families are warmly welcomed. Classes and programs are designed to meet the developmental and social needs of infants and toddlers (newborns through age 4), to create meaningful bonding experiences for caregivers, and to provide practical skills and solutions, advice, and community-building opportunities for parents and parents-to-be.
We offer a wide variety of Sunday and weekday classes for children ages 0-4 and their caregivers, as well as workshops for parents, parents-to-be, and folks who want to be parents.
Upcoming Workshops for parents and parents-to-be
SOLD OUT; email mszubin@edcjcc.org to be added to the waitlist in case of cancellations
6 Wednesdays, April 7-May 12
7:30-8:30 PM
$92 for the six-week session; EDCJCC Member Rate $74
Facilitated by Heather Diamond, Psy.D
Pregnant for the first time? Looking to create a community with other expecting moms to exchange ideas and find support? This group will meet weekly via Zoom for six weeks to provide a safe and facilitated space for moms-to-be to discuss their experiences and learn from one another. We will explore several topics, including: concerns about childbirth and parenting; balancing family with work outside the home; navigating new relationships with your partner, parents, and in-laws; and recognizing post (and pre)-partum depression and anxiety. The group will be kept small so that connections can be fostered easily, even in a virtual space, and also so that in-person outdoor meet-ups can be organized safely if the group wants.
3 Tuesdays, April 13, 20, and 27, 8:00-9:00 PM
FREE but registration is required
Led by Maria Blaeuer, Director of Programs and Outreach at Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE) and Lauren Siegel, Psy.D, Director of Clinical Services at the Kingsbury Wellness & Learning Group
This interactive three-part series is for DC families of school-aged children (ages 4-12) who suspect that their child might benefit from learning and/or behavioral supports. We will discuss how to identify developmental red flags, what rights you have in terms of accessing support, how to obtain an evaluation through both public and private channels, what the evaluation process actually looks like, and how to use your evaluation results to acquire support services, including through the DC public school system. Led by experts in the fields of neuropsychological assessments and education law and advocacy, each part of the series will include a formal presentation followed by lots of time for questions and discussion.
ABOUT AJE: Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE) is the federally designated Parent Training & Information Center for Washington D.C. AJE’s mission is to empower families, youth, and the community to be effective advocates to ensure that children and youth, particularly those who have special needs, receive access to appropriate education and health services. Read more at https://www.aje-dc.org/
ABOUT KINGSBURY: The Kingsbury Wellness & Learning Group is a non-profit group of clinicians and educators dedicated to removing barriers and unlocking potential for families with learning and behavior challenges. Through neuropsychological testing, psychotherapy, and other services, we help families gain access to the support they need to succeed at school, work, or home.
These days, so much is out of our control, but there is no better time to educate yourself about estate planning for you and your loved ones. Taught by Andrew Friedman, an estate planning attorney and brand-new father himself, this hour-long virtual meeting will cover the basics of estate planning, what documents you need (wills, trusts, powers of attorney), how to protect your family in case of unforeseen circumstances, and how you can execute your Will and estate planning documents even while practicing social distancing. Bring your questions!
Raising children to build a just world is a life-long process, as well as a difficult challenge for parents to navigate. Join us for a two-part series with expert educator Dr. Nabina Liebow, who will take us through the learning and practical steps necessary to raise anti-racist children and help us create a cohort of race conscious parents in our community.
This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to understand how white supremacy and white privilege affect all parts of our lives and how to bring these ideas into conversation and action in parenting. It is meant as a beginning, and not to be comprehensive or all-encompassing.
Although we understand that life is unpredictable, we request that you commit to both Part 1 and Part 2 of this workshop in order to honor the learning process and receive the full benefit of this workshop. Attendance will be capped in order to create an intimate cohort of parents.
Part 1 (May 4, 8:00-9:30 PM): Discussing race and racism with your children is a vital part of antiracist and race conscious parenting. But some people might feel a little rusty on the basics! In the first part of the workshop, Dr. Liebow will give a “Crash Course in Racial Literacy” to provide an important framework and context for race conscious parenting. This session will go over the basics of anti-racist thought and ideology, as well as challenge participants to explore their own biases and thought processes before they are able to address these ideas with their children. By the end of this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of race, white supremacy, white privilege, and antiracism.
Part 2 (May 11, 8:00-9:30 PM): In the second part of the workshop, parents will learn strategies for helping their child develop an antiracist consciousness and how to apply concepts learned in the first session to raising their children.
Part 3 (optional): As follow-up to Dr. Liebow’s sessions, we are offering a monthly 1-hour meeting for parents who have participated in this workshop to come together and follow up with each other, insure accountability, share thoughts and resources, and continue the work of anti-racist parenting. This monthly meeting will be facilitated by Sonya Weisburd, MSW, EDCJCC’s Director of Social Justice and Volunteer Programs.
This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC Parenting Center and Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility
The Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.