If you have a baby or preschool child, this group is for you. LECPTA can seem like an underground operation at times, but once you become a member, the organization comes alive. They have no physical location, just a website (www.lecpta.com/) and phone number (216/221-3194). Meetings and parties take place in school gyms, at members’ homes or in other interesting venues around the Cleveland area. For $15 per year and a 3-hour time commitment, LECPTA offers playgroups, tours, discount tickets to special events and much more. Best of all is the informal network of families supporting families. It’s an opportunity to make Lakewood a small town, a place where you see a familiar face everywhere you take your children. Members include stay-at-home moms, stay-at-home dads, parents who work full-time, parents who work part-time, single parents, grandparents and other caregivers. Check the website for more information.
Lakewood Hospital
Lakewood Hospital, 14519 Detroit Avenue, 216/521-4200, is a Cleveland Clinic facility.
New Moms' Support Group: 216-529/7006
Being a new parent can be joyful, confusing and exhausting at the same time. Come to this support group staffed by nurses from the Lakewood Hospital Birthing Center to discuss your questions and fears. No reservations necessary. Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Nursing Moms' Chat: 216/529-5018
Visit with an OB nurse to discuss breastfeeding issues at the Lakewood Family Room, 17400 Northwood Avenue. Wednesdays 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Diabetes Support Group: 216/529-7559
First Tuesday of each month 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Diabetes Insulin Dependent Young Adults (DIDYA): 216/256-9660 or 440/239-7375
DIDYA is for individuals who are insulin dependent and using an insulin pump. Second Tuesday of each month 7 p.m.
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Consumer and Family Support Social Group: 216/875-7776
For family members, caregivers and persons with mental illness. Adults only. Second and fourth Tuesday of each month 7 to 9 p.m.
Smoking Cessation Program: 216/521-4200, ext. 8093
Freedom from Smoking is an eight-session American Lung Association program facilitated by a respiratory therapist who is a former smoker. $15 for all sessions. Call for dates.
Nicotine Anonymous: 216/521.4200 ext. 8093
Wednesdays 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Narcotics Anonymous: 216/533-1160
Wednesdays 8 to 9 p.m.
Health Screenings, Wellness, Forums
Lakewood and Fairview Hospitals offer free or low cost community forums and health screenings throughout the year to provide the community with health, safety and prevention information. Offerings include hearing screenings, classes on infant massage and the Safe Sitter Program (targeted to teach child-care skills to 11-13 year olds). For a list of current offerings, see the brochure at http://portals.clevelandclinic.org/lakewood/PatientsVisitors/HealthScreeningsWellnessForums/tabid/2853/Default.aspx.
Lakewood Family Room
If we strengthen and support parents, we ultimately strengthen our families and community. This philosophy led to the creation of The Lakewood Family Room, 17400 Northwood Avenue. A wonderful place for residents raising young families to meet others and learn about Lakewood, the Family Room offers parent education, support groups, parent/child activities, resources and referrals, and time and stress management techniques. Drop in programs include alternative parenting, Arab-American women, nursing moms and teen parents. Call 216/529-5018 or visit their website at www.onelakewood.com/HumanServices/EarlyChildhood/FamilyRoom.aspx for complete information.
Lakewood Christian Service Center
The Lakewood Christian Service Center is dedicated to addressing the needs of Lakewood citizens who are jobless, hungry, and/or in crisis. The Center is a collaborative organization of individuals, Lakewood churches, businesses and civic organizations. They provide job-search assistance; emergency food; advocacy with housing, utilities and public assistance; and information and referral services. If you are in need of any of these services or would like more information, visit lcsclakewood.org/ or call 216/226-6466.
La Leche League
La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who choose to breastfeed. La Leche League of Ohio also provides healthcare professionals with continuing education opportunities and access to the latest research on lactation management. All breastfeeding mothers and interested mothers-to-be are welcome to attend meetings or call a leader for help. Babies are always welcome at meetings. Leaders are experienced mothers who have breastfed their own babies and who have been trained and accredited by La Leche League International. They also have access to breastfeeding products. Lakewood has two groups; for meeting information and leaders’ names and phone numbers, check the website at www.lllohio.org/groups/cleveland.html
YMCA Adventure Guides was designed for parents or other significant adults and their children ages five through eleven. An adult and child attend program activities together as a pair. They meet regularly with a small group of parent-child pairs called a Circle. Monthly, the whole Nation (all Circles in the Lakewood YMCA) comes together to participate in activities such as campouts, parties, or parades. Typical activities include ceremonies, games, crafts, community service events, and outdoor pursuits such as camping, hiking, and swimming. There is open enrollment all year. If you are interested in learning more, visit www.clevelandymca.org/branches/lakewood/guides.html
Online Resources
Free Range Kids is a blog that promotes letting your kids adventure, get dirty, make mistakes, even walk home alone without excessive parental anxiety. BlueSuitMom.com describes itself as a resource to help executive working mothers and their employers achieve work and family balance. They offer advice on parenting, career advancement, the balancing act, meal planning and family health and fitness in a format that nurtures respect for professional mothers.
MOPS.org stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. MOPS International exists to meet the needs of every mom - urban, suburban and rural moms, stay-at-home and working moms, teen, single and married moms. They encourage relationships established through local groups that provide a caring atmosphere for today's mother of young children and through resources such as books, their website and the MOPS International Membership.
The Family and Marriage Counseling Directory is a multi-disciplinary state by state directory designed so that individuals can easily find members of the helping professions in their area through the major search engines.
The goal of Dictionary for Dads is to assist fathers in raising healthy, happy children and nurturing a great relationship with them. Because parenting is often complex and confusing, their aim is to provide every dad with education, information and resources for all dilemmas — medical, psychological, developmental, environmental, marital, social and academic. Dictionary for Dads believes that the label of “dad” is one which is earned, not one provided through birth.
Financial Planning
If you want to know if you are on track for retirement or saving for college, you can get referrals to fee-only financial planners at napfa.org, website for the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. NAPFA members can counsel you about almost any issue, including those you have not considered. Fee-Only compensation indicates that an advisor never accepts commissions or compensation of any kind related to the products he or she recommends. NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors maintain the highest standards of proficiency in the industry.
The mission of MsMoney.com is to educate and empower people to take control of their personal finances in order to live better lives, excel in their careers, and pursue their dreams more fervently. This site teaches people the fundamentals of financial health, wealth building, career expansion and life skills that relate to money issues. Although the site contains information for a general audience, it pays particular attention to women, family and children's needs.
Moms may also want to check out WomensFinance.com for information on savings, credit, paying for college, investing, career information and more.
The Women’s Institute for Financial Education is the oldest non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial education to women in their quest for financial independence. Visit WIFE.org for articles on teaching your children about money, budgets, taxes, relationships and more.
The Ohio State University Extension offers a study-at-home course called Manage Your Money. Visit ohioline.osu.edu/mym/ to learn how to assess your financial standing, examine spending habits, use credit wisely, develop a budget and keep financial records.
Many Americans feel stress and anxiety about their financial future and question how they will provide for themselves and their families during economic crises. Managing in Tough Times, a Cooperative Extension System Educational Initiative, offers a series of articles for families to learn to deal with the many stresses that can arise from financial problems.
Do you have a great family-related resource, event or tidbit of information that you want to tell us about?
Submissions for the Lakewood Public Library Parent Pages can be emailed to akloss@lkwdpl.org
