Nurturing Roots Family Support Services 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Nurturing Roots Family Support Services provides supportive services for families in Los Angeles County. Our mission is to provide a circle of support around pregnant and parenting families with children under 5 years of age. We offer:

• Birth Art Workshops:
  • Placenta Art Workshop
  • Pregnant Belly Casting
  • Henna Belly Tattoo Workshop
• Family Visioning Sessions: manifesting your family’s dreams
• Understanding Your Childbirth Options
• Infant Massage Classes
• Placenta Encapsulation Workshop
• Pregnancy Blessingway Ceremonies (An Alternative to the Baby Shower).
• Cooking & Healthy Eating Classes:
  • Homemade Healthy Baby Food Workshop
  • Healthy Family Meal Preparation
• Yoga Classes for Moms and Babies
• Creating & Using Herbal Family Remedies
• Birth Film Night and Discussion Sessions
• Mother’s Support  & Discussion Group
• Workshop on Understanding the Benefits of Postpartum Doula Support Services
• Fatherhood Mentorship and Support

ABOUT NURTURING ROOTS FATHERHOOD SUPPORT PROGRAM

Expectant and experienced dads are eligible to join our Fatherhood Support Program and do not have to have partners enrolled in our program to participate. Through this program, fathers-to-be or new or experienced dads can receive one-on-one mentorship and life coaching, support for educational goals like GED completion, job training, and employment. Services are offered by TeDese Ross, MA, our Fatherhood Support Coordinator.

For mothers enrolled in our Doula Program, your partner can participate this program, allowing him to access a wealth of resources, guidance, and assistance tailored to his role as a supportive partner and new father. This dual-focused approach not only empowers fathers-to-be with the knowledge they need but also fosters a deeper sense of involvement and shared responsibility. 

MEET OUR FATHERHOOD PROGRAM COORDINATOR

TeDese Ross, MA, Fatherhood Program Coordinator, is an experienced special education public school teacher, middle school principal, Adult Education and Technical Career Instructor, husband  and father of four sons. He is here to address any questions and concerns fathers  may have and provide the necessary assistance to make their journey as smooth and enriching as possible.

I cannot express my gratitude for TeDese Ross, He helped me get my high school diploma, certified me to work in
mental health and helped me get a job that supports my family. Me and my wife’s relationship is better, and I feel
better” – M. F.

 

 

 

What Fathers Participating in this Program Received:

• Increased Parenting Confidence: Participants demonstrated improved parenting skills and greater confidence in their role as fathers.
  

  Fishing Trip to Catalina Island with Dads and Kids

• Employment Support: Several participants secured stable employment through job training and placement services.
• Legal Assistance: Some participants received guidance on child support and visitation rights, helping them navigate legal challenges.
• Improved Co-Parenting Relationships: Communication workshops facilitated better relationships with co-parents, reducing conflicts.
• Enhanced Mental Health Support: Participants were connected to counseling services, helping them manage stress and emotional difficulties.
• Resource Accessibility: Fathers were provided with information on available community resources for ongoing support.
• Fun Activities with dads and kids such as a recent fishing trip to Catalina Island, bowling night, sports events and more.

 

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MEET THE NURTURING ROOTS FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM COORDINATOR 

Tai Carson, BA, CPSS, CPD, CMA

Email: Tai.Carson@motherbabysupport.net Phone: (626) 388-2191 ext. 3

Tai is a retired midwife with over 35 years’ experience who has attended over 700 births. She is the Coordinator of Happy Mama Healthy Baby’s Nurturing Roots  Family Support Services. Born and raised in Los Angeles she comes from a mixed heritage of African, Asian, and European backgrounds. Tai has over three decades of  experience in maternity and newborn care, as well as general healthcare. She currently focuses on postpartum doula support and palliative care. Ms. Carson has a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Services from California State University, Los Angeles, along with an Associate’s Certificate in Counseling Psychology. Additionally, she is a Registered Medical Assistant in Washington State, where she worked at a rural primary health clinic.Tai is a Certified Postpartum Doula, Certified Perinatal Support Specialist, and Certified Childbirth Educator. From 1999 to 2005, she was the owner/midwife at The Hollywood Birth Center in Los Angeles, where she trained several apprentices and doulas. She has worked in home birth and birth center midwifery practices in Washington, Los Angeles, and Mt. Shasta, California. As a perinatal health educator, Tai served as a trainer for Birth Emergency Skills Training (B.E.S.T.) and co-conducted Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance’s Perinatal Support Specialist Training at Esperanza Community Housing Corporation’s Promotora de Salud Program from 2013 to 2015. “As a woman of color, postpartum doula, health educator, midwife and a maternal-infant health advocate, I am dedicated to eradicating health disparities among childbearing women of color in my community. I am thrilled to work on programs aimed at improving  perinatal health inequities,” says Ms. Carson.