Family Center

The Family Center is the hub of Beech Brook’s child abuse prevention, early intervention, parent education and support programs.

The Center is located at 6001 Woodland Ave., in the heart of Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood, where many families struggle against the overwhelming burdens of generational poverty, exposure to violence, substance abuse and other toxic stress. But our services don’t stop there. Our Family Center staff can be found throughout the city, helping to strengthen and support families in many communities so that their children have the chance to grow up in safe, healthy and stable homes.

Our Family Center is a welcoming place where families can feel free to seek information, understanding and assistance in a nonjudgmental, supportive environment.

These are just some of the services offered by the Family Center.

Parenting

These programs and classes help parents/caregivers have a better understanding of their children’s needs and behaviors and provide information, tools and resources to increase their knowledge and strengthen their parenting skills. Topics include basic child development, positive discipline and healthy communication, among others.

For more information or to make a referral for Parenting Classes, contact Debra Brown or call 216.391.4069.

Read how the pandemic has made parenting resources a critical need to all families!

Nurturing Parenting

Nurturing Parenting is a family-centered, trauma-informed model designed to build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive and neglectful parenting and child-rearing practices. Services can be provided in a group and individual format, virtually, in-home and at the Beech Brook Family Center (when re-opened). The 12-week curriculum involves both parents and their children, whenever possible.

For more information or to make a referral for Nurturing Parenting Services, contact Bridgett Berry or call 216.391.4069.

Drop-In Hours

Drop-In Hours offer a chance for parents to come and meet with staff before or after classes or at other times to seek parenting information and other types of assistance, or just to talk to someone who cares. Although the Center is currently not open to the public, Drop-In hours will resume on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., once the building is re-opened.

For assistance with questions or concerns now, contact Debra Brown or call 216.391.4069.

Anger Management

Anger Management classes provide parents with the tools they need to recognize the underlying causes for their anger and learn to manage their feelings in a healthier way at home and in their everyday lives. Classes are currently being provided virtually.

For more information or to make a referral for Anger Management, contact Debra Brown or call 216.391.4069.

S.T.E.P.S. Classes

S.T.E.P.S., which stands for Security, Touch, Eyes, Play and Sound, empowers parents to take an active role in their child’s brain development by helping them understand the tremendous impact they can have through purposeful play and interaction with their infants and young children. This parent-friendly curriculum teaches simple activities to be used with babies and toddlers that help improve brain development. Classes are currently offered virtually.

For more information or to sign up for a S.T.E.P.S. class, contact Cassandra Bigsby at 216.391.4069.

Parent Cafés

Parent Cafés provide parents with a chance to relax, make friends, and share worries and concerns with other parents. Dinner and child care is included in this 4-week long program, held on Friday evenings. Topics are decided upon by the participants themselves. Objectives include:

• Being more resilient as a parent
• Forging positive social relationships for you in the community
• Create concrete support networks
• Learn more about parenting and child development
• Improve your communications skills

For more information or to register for the next session, contact Debra Brown at 216.391.4069 or debrown@beechbrook.org.

Supportive Visitation

Supportive Visitation provides coaching for parents whose children have been placed in county custody to prepare them for reunification. Visitation services are provided virtually, at Neighborhood Collaboratives, in the home and at other community sites, and at the Beech Brook Family Center (when re-opened).

For more information or to make a referral for Supportive Visitation Services, contact Bridgett Berry or call 216.391.4069.

The Police Assisted Referral (PAR)

Provided in partnership with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Police Department, the PAR Program trains officers to be first social responders for CMHA residents who have experienced an act of violence. Officers refer families to Beech Brook for the services and support they need to stabilize the situation and prevent further acts of violence.

For information about the PAR program, contact Ron Robinson or call 216.391.4069.

Read about PAR in Action within the Community

The Family Stability/Homeless Prevention Program

With a goal of preventing evictions and homelessness, this program provides a wide range of social services, information and other supports to help at-risk families maintain stable housing.

For more information, contact Janalee Brown or call 216.391.4069.

Healthy Relationships

These groups are designed to provide support and tools for parents and/or co-parents to help them maintain healthy and nurturing relationships for themselves and their families. Sessions focus on topics such as enhancing communications skills, understanding your partner and developing other strategies to strengthen relationships.

For more information, contact Debra Brown or call 216.391.4069.