The St. Tammany Health System Parenting Center has brought home the gold.
The longtime resource for Northshore families has been recognized as a Gold Level Safe Sitter Provider after teaching more than 125 students in a single year across its Safe Sitter programming.
The designation marks the second consecutive year the Parenting Center has been honored by Safe Sitter. In 2024, the center received Silver Level status. This year’s Gold Level recognition reflects expanded reach and continued community engagement.
The Parenting Center offers three Safe Sitter courses throughout the year, both at the health system’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital and at community locations across the Northshore, as part of its commitment to equipping families with the knowledge and skills needed to keep children safe. They are:
- Safe Sitter Essentials with CPR, which is designed for students in grades 6 to 8 and prepares them to stay safe when home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting. The instructor-led course includes role-playing exercises and interactive lessons on child development, job screening, first aid, choking rescue and CPR.
- Safe@Home, a 90-minute program for students in grades 4 to 6 that teaches safe habits, injury prevention and how to respond to emergencies such as power outages and severe weather. Students are introduced to the Safe Sitter First Aid Chart and a system for assessing and responding to injuries and illnesses.
- Grandparents Getting Started, the Parenting Center’s newest offering, which is designed to help grandparents understand current, research-based recommendations for infant and child care. The course covers updated safety guidelines, behavior management strategies and life-saving skills including choking rescue, first aid and injury management.
Since the Parenting Center became an active Safe Sitter provider in 2002, it has taught a total of 2,098 students.
Founded in 1987, the STHS Parenting Center is committed to providing local parents and children the tools they need to grow together as a family through an array of programs. In addition to parenting and babysitting classes, it hosts playdates and a variety of socialization events, such as the Monster Mash fall celebration.
Visit StTammany.health for more information about upcoming classes. You can also learn more about the Parenting Center and its mission at StTammany.health/ParentingCenter.