Treehouse Family Resources is expanding its community programming this summer with new support groups and pop-up events designed to help parents navigate the earliest and most challenging stages of raising children.
The organization launched new programming earlier this year with short-format pop-up sessions covering topics such as potty training, infant crying and sleep concerns, built around the reality that most parents have little time to spare.
“Families don’t have a lot of time. They come home from work and they often have not seen their kids all day,” said Liz Ludington, executive director of Treehouse Family Resources. “We thought, what if we could provide educational pieces in really short chunks that would take 10 or 20 minutes? You have the opportunity to sit and talk with other parents. You can bring your kids and they can play while you get some education.”
On Wednesday, Treehouse opened its first new support group, focused on the immediate weeks and months after birth. Commonly called the “Fourth Trimester”. A second group supporting parents through pregnancy launches Wednesday, June 25.
Ludington says the need for these programs reflects a gap in available resources for new and expecting parents.
“People will go to their prenatal checkups on a schedule, but there really are not childbirth preparation classes offered with any regularity,” she said. “Support pretty much ends when you have your baby, then it really becomes about the baby. Especially first-time parents, there are a lot of questions and they feel very alone. They’re very tired. They need to know that what they’re going through is normal and have an outlet.”
Ludington adds the programs are part of a broader effort to build community around parenthood.
“We’re really trying to give parents more support as they go through the parenting journey,” she said. “We get feedback that there’s not a lot of preparation for giving birth, not a lot of breastfeeding support and not a lot of support for postpartum depression. We’re just trying to form a community so that people have a place to talk about their feelings, what’s going on with them and get some expert advice.”
The new support groups are funded by a $35,000 Superior Health Foundation grant awarded in May. Treehouse Family Resources fully funds the pop-up programs coming to the community this summer.
More information about Treehouse Family Resources and early childhood development opportunities is available online. The first Pop-Up Parenting session, Sun & Bugs, will take place on Tuesday, June 23, from 4:30–6:30 PM. All programs will take place at the Treehouse Indoor Playground at 850 W Sharon Avenue, Suite 6, in Houghton.
Fourth Trimester Support Group
1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month
8:30–9:30 AM
Begins June 17
Pregnancy Support Group
2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month
8:30–9:30 AM
Begins June 24
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