Where to Grow Your Village: Find Parent Support Groups & Local Mom Clubs in Southern California
Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it does come with a community. Who’s part of your village? Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, doctors, teachers, friends? There’s lots of help and support out there.
If you’re looking to grow your village, we’ve rounded up a list of mom clubs, new parent classes and workshops, LGBTQ+ groups, illness and bereavement support, and more.
Clubs for Moms
Photo: FIT4MOM
FIT4MOM
FIT4MOM is a community of moms who offer fitness classes and wellness programs for every stage of motherhood — from pregnancy through postpartum. Classes include Stroller Strides, Stroller Barre, Run Club Meet Up, and more. Each month, activities are scheduled in your local area including playgroups, book clubs, family events, and more.
Nearby Groups: Long Beach, Lakewood – Los Alamitos, Torrance, Palos Verdes & San Pedro, North Orange County, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley & Huntington Beach, Irvine/Tustin, Ladera Ranch
Photo: MOMS Club
MOMS Club
MOMS Club offers playgroups, babysitting coops, moms’ night outs and holiday parties. Activities are specifically geared for the moms, and often share interests like cooking, couponing, crafts, outings, books and exercise.
Each chapter plans at least one service project to benefit needy children in their community. That can be as simple as collecting toys for foster children to something as elaborate as planning fundraisers and creating a new playground, or helping a new wing of a children’s hospital.
Each chapter has a monthly meeting with an interesting speaker or topic for discussion.
Find a chapter near you on their website, or learn how to start one of your own.
Photo: MOMcon 2021
MOPS
MOPS International encourages and equips moms of young children to realize their potential as mothers, women and leaders, in relationship with Jesus, and in partnership with the local church. MOPS also hosts the annual MOMcon, the largest moms-only retreat featuring speakers, artists, and workshops.
MOMCODE
MOMCODE Circles help moms, families, and communities thrive by providing support, opportunities for connection, education, tools, and resources. Programs include Diversity and Empowerment Book Club and Kids Kindness Club. Circles offer support including play groups, service activities, workshops, and more.
Local Circles: Lakewood, West SF Valley, and Antelope Valley
New Parent Support
Boot Camp for New Dads & Moms
www.bootcampfornewdads.org
www.bootcampfornewmoms.com
Workshops for parents-to-be that provide a space for rookie dads to talk to veteran dads, and rookie moms to talk to veteran moms.
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Breastfeeding Clinics at Columbia Pediatric
3833 Worsham Ave, Suite 301, Long Beach
(562) 595-5479
www.columbiapediatrics.com/service/breastfeeding-education
For first-time mothers or experienced moms with new questions. Weekly clinics are led by a lactation consultant. Call ahead to confirm attendance.
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New Mom School
Costa Mesa & Encinitas
thenewmomschool.com
Postnatal education beginning with your newborn through 12 months. Classes provide the education, community and support you need right from the start. Additional resources include: breastfeeding consultations, postpartum doula consultations in the home, mental health support, and more. Visit their website to book your classes.
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MOMS Orange County
MOMS Orange County is the region’s largest non-profit dedicated solely to newborn and pregnancy health.
In-Home Program – During pregnancy, a MOMS home visitor prepares new moms for childbirth and breastfeeding. She visits once a month through your baby’s first birthday.
Childbirth and Mommy & Me Classes – Join classes in childbirth, prenatal health, breastfeeding, and a workshop for new dads. Mommy & Me and My Parents & Me classes teach fun activities that stimulate your baby’s mental and physical growth.
Scholarships may be available if class fee is a hardship.
Doulas
Trained professionals who provide support before, during, and shortly after childbirth.
Doulas of Orange County
www.doulasoforangecounty.com
Doulas of Orange County connects you with a doula that will help you through pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum issues, sleep training your baby, and child education. Parenting workshops are available.
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Dona International
www.dona.org
An international listing of doulas. Find a doula in your area, here.
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Dream Team Doulas
dreamteamdoulas.com
Focused on postpartum services, Dream Team Doulas provides services to assist new parents with adjustment to life with a newborn, pediatric sleep services and more.
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Labor of Love: Birth & Postpartum
www.laboroflovebirthservices.com
Labor of Love: Birth & Postpartum provides comprehensive classes, birthing services, and postpartum services to help support newborns and their parents.
LGBTQ+ Support
Support programs for LGBTQ mothers and fathers, as well as for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
LGBT Center OC
1605 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana
(714) 953-5428
www.lgbtcenteroc.org
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Los Angeles LGBT Center
Seven locations and a youth center
(323) 993-7400
www.lagaycenter.org
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The LGBTQ Center Long Beach
2017 E. 4th St., Long Beach
(562) 434-4455
www.centerlb.org
Social and support groups for families include Queer Parenting Group and Transparent Families (child play group, teen group, and parent group).
Mothers of Multiples
Organizations that provide resources, support groups and more for parents of multiples.
Multiples of America
www.multiplesofamerica.org
National organization that provides listings of resources to support families with multiples.
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OC Mothers of Multiples
ocmom.org
The club offers opportunities for support, education and friendship to all mothers and female guardians of twins, triplets and higher order multiples.
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Lakewood Long Beach Mother of Twins Club
https://tinyurl.com/LongBeachLakewoodTwinsClub
A non-profit group aimed at helping and supporting mothers of multiples meeting the second Tuesday each month.
Child Support Services
Orange County Department of Child Support Services
1055 N. Main St., Santa Ana
(866) 901-3212
www.css.ocgov.com
The OCDCSS provides services to parents or caretakers of minor children. The Solutions for Parents program, includes the establishment and enforcement of child support orders, establishment of legal paternity through genetic testing, and account maintenance.
Illness & Bereavement Support Groups
Art and Creativity for Healing
(949) 367-1902
www.art4healing.org
Provides support and emotional healing through art & creative expression for those living with pain, grief, fear or stress.
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New Hope Grief Support Community
(562) 429-0075
www.newhopegrief.org
Comprehensive support team that provides support for adults, family camps, school based programs and holiday workshops to help those dealing with grief navigate their new lives.
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Pathways Volunteer Hospice
(562) 531-3031
www.pathwayshospice.org
A non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to providing compassionate care to families living with illness and loss.
More Resources
Parents Without Partners
Parents Without Partners provides single parents and their children with an opportunity for enhancing personal growth, self-confidence and sensitivity towards others by offering an environment for support, friendship and the exchange of parenting techniques.
For the minor children of single parents, it offers them the opportunity to meet peers living within the same family structure and thriving.
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
3 Comments
Hello! We would love for you to add MOMCODE to your list of local mom and parent support groups for your next edition of Kidsguide: http://www.momcode.org
MOMCODE is a nonprofit organization that builds communities of open, diverse and empowered moms. Mothers today face unprecedented challenges to our own and our families’ health and wellbeing. We help moms, families and communities thrive by providing support, opportunities for connection, education, tools, and resources to mothers. Our programs include the Diversity and Empowerment Book Club and Kids Kindness Club.
MOMCODE Circles are local support networks rooted in our four CODE values – Community, Openness, Diversity and Empowerment. Our Circles offer support to their members, including play groups, service activities, interest groups, workshops and speakers. They conduct educational and charitable activities in their local communities, fostering a strong sense of community and mutual support that benefits both the family and community. We currently have active Circles throughout Southern California.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @momcodecircle
Hi Lisa! Just added MOMCODE to the list! Thanks for telling us all about your mission and programs. Keep up the amazing work!
-Alina, Kidsguide
Awesome! Thanks so very much! 🥰