From breastfeeding support to parenting classes and ongoing education as your baby grows, the New Parent Resource Center welcomes new moms and families, including those who did not deliver their baby at Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura.
“Every new parent deserves a village, and we’re proud to help create that here,” said Ciella Baum, the center’s manager of Lactation Services, Perinatal Education and New Parent Resources.
“One of the things that makes the New Parent Resource Center special is the sense of community families find here. Becoming a new parent can feel overwhelming, and no one should have to do it alone. We often tell families that they’re not just coming here for a visit, they’re finding their village. Parents connect with other parents who are going through the same experiences, celebrate milestones together, and support one another through challenges.”
The Center offers a wide range of classes for an affordable fee on topics including childbirth, infant care, lactation and pump consultation, CPR, prenatal yoga, parenting, car seat safety, and baby basics. The Center also hosts support groups focusing on breastfeeding support and postpartum wellness, and a group for parents of babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). All classes are taught by Certified Childbirth Educators.
Beginning July 1, the New Parent Resource Center will begin billing insurance companies for lactation consultations, a covered service under the Affordable Care Act.
“Lactation care is essential healthcare, and we’re thrilled to see it increasingly recognized and covered by insurance. Billing insurance allows us to provide a more sustainable model so we can continue serving families for years to come. This change helps strengthen, not reduce, access to expert lactation care in our community. Our goal remains the same: helping families meet their feeding goals and giving babies the healthiest possible start. We continue to offer affordable self-pay options and scholarships for qualifying families,” Baum said.
The Center is also now offering a new class called “The Wonder Year” for parents of 1-year-olds. This class covers many topics parents of soon-to-be toddlers often wonder about, like nutrition, development, socialization, teething, structure, and first-year milestones. A different topic is covered each month, and this new class encourages moms and babies to maintain the friendships they started when their babies were infants. “The Wonder Year” is held every third Thursday of the month, from 4:00 – 5:00 pm in the Center.
Many free resources are still available at the Center. This includes the free breastfeeding support group, which provides ongoing guidance from lactation consultants, free maternity tours, and community events that help families prepare for and navigate early parenthood.
Finally, as part of Community Memorial’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding, the Center offers breastfeeding supplies for sale or rent, including breast pumps, pump replacement parts, and breastfeeding supplies. And, for a one-time $50 fee, patients may place unlimited calls to the Center to ask about any breastfeeding topic until their baby is one year old.
The New Parent Resource Center is located at 2580 East Main Street, Suite 101. Hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Visit the Center or book a class online at mycmhbaby.org, or call 948-2229 (BABY).
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Ventura County Health Care Agency Warns of Medical Payment Scams
The Ventura County Health Care Agency (HCA) is alerting patients and families about a reported scam in which callers falsely claim to represent a hospital and request immediate payment for medical services or related expenses.
In these incidents, scammers may pressure individuals for urgent payment by phone during already stressful medical situations.
“We take reports of fraudulent activity targeting patients and families very seriously,” said Danielle Gabele, CEO of Ventura County Medical Center & Santa Paula Hospital. “While we have found no evidence of a cybersecurity breach, we want to ensure the community knows how to recognize and report suspicious requests.”
HCA reminds the public that hospital staff will not request payment via unsolicited phone calls or demand payment through wire transfers, cash apps, or mobile payment services such as Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App.
If you receive a suspicious request:
- Hang up and verify directly by contacting the hospital
- Contact Patient Financial Services: (805) 648-9553
- Report scams: HCA Compliance Helpline at (833) 823-6631
- Notify authorities and your bank if financial information was shared
Community members are encouraged to share this warning with family and caregivers. HCA says awareness and verification are the best protections against fraud targeting patients during vulnerable moments.
