They say kids don’t come with an owner’s manual. Fortunately, the California Parenting Institute (3650 Standish Ave., Santa Rosa; 585-6108) is here to help. This welcome community resource offers everything from support programs for first-time parents (including special help for dads) to parent education consultations for help with dealing with anger, self-esteem, and other issues. Included are affordable classes on disciplining your toddlers; parenting your teen; helping parents of special-needs children; and coping as a single parent. In addition to countywide classes, CPI operates a family resource center in southwest Santa Rosa. No, they won’t hand you an operating manual as the nurse wheels you out of the hospital doors, but don’t let that stop you from obtaining the specialized skills you need to thrive as a parent. Here are a handful of other helpful family services and programs:
Sonoma County
Association for Children for Enforcement of Support (assists parents not receiving entitled support). 546-2380.
Associates for Youth Development 7345 Burton Ave., Rohnert Park. 793-9030, ext. 2.
CHAD (information and support group for adults and children with attention deficit disorder), Veterans Bldg., 1351 Maple St, Santa Rosa. 765-4863.
Children with Cancer St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 16290 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. 258-3585.
Early Works Learning Tools 141 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 765-1993.
Fab Kids (activities for children with life-threatening illnesses), Burke’s Canoe Trips, Mirabel and River roads, Forestville. 887-2222.
Grieving for Parents 735 Broadway, Sonoma. 935-7504.
Jungle Vibes 163 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 762-6583.
Kid Street Learning Center 54 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 525-9223.
Kindergym (call for times and locations). 585-6108.
La Leche League Women’s Health Resource CenterÂSutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa, 625 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. 525-8188.
MOPS (mothers of preschoolers), Petaluma Valley Baptist Church, 580 Sonoma Mtn. Pkwy., Petaluma. 763-2277.
Mothers’ Club Finley Community Center, Cypress Room, 2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. 525-5902.
Parenting Teens in the New Millennium 2403 Professional Drive, Santa Rosa. 544-3295.
Parents Without Partners (call for information). 523-8491.
Partners for Adoption 4527 Montgomery Drive, Suite A, Santa Rosa. 539-9068.
Petaluma School District (offers free monthly parenting classes). 778-4813.
Polly Klaas Foundation 800/587-4357.
Positive Images (call for location and details). 579-4947.
Sonoma County Legal Aid Family Law Workshops Old Courthouse Square, Suite 100, Santa Rosa. 542-1290.
Teen Clinic 51 Lombardi Court, Santa Rosa. 544-7526.
WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program 431-0831 or 565-6690.
Women’s Health and Birth Center 583 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa. 539-1544.
Napa County
Community Resources for Children 253-0376.
Healthy Moms and Babies 252-6541.
La Leche League 252-8242.
Padres Efectivos (effective parents), 1299 Pine St., Napa. 693-1912.
WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program 253-4853.
From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.
© Metro Publishing Inc.
