Causes: Family Services, Human Services

Mission: To provide primary health care, social service and child development needs for underserved child-bearing and child-rearing families.

Programs: The developing families center models hallmarks are comprehensive services and continuity of care for predominately african-american childbearing and childrearing families residing largely in wards 5,7, and 8 in the district of columbia. It is a unique model of service delivery under one roof that places maternity care in its social context with an out-of-hospital birth center at its core. A range of complementary services, including well woman care for women of all ages, adult primary health care, childrens primary health care to 21 years of age, family resource and support services, including home visiting, case management, parenting and childbirth education classes and a full day early childhood education center with 6 classrooms for infants and toddlers. Health care is provided by advanced nurse practitioners with appropriate physician back-up. Child development associates and early education teachers provide classroom learning and parent support. The model supports peer education through group pre-natal care, breastfeeding peer counselors, a focus on fathers, and fathers to be. The model emphasizes collaboration, community engagement/community-based participatory research, wellness, and enhancing the resilience of the families served.