The Riga Municipality Welfare Department and Riga Social Service, in cooperation with the Latvian SOS Children’s Villages Association, have created a new service that is offered to parents of newborns who are registered and living in the Latvian capital. They have the opportunity to receive free informative and emotional support during the first six months of their baby’s life in the program “When a Baby is Born”.
The service is financed from the budget of the Riga Municipality. It is planned that 500 families will be able to receive the service. The contract with the Latvian SOS Children’s Villages Association was signed on April 14, and 37 families have applied so far.
The goal of the new support program is to promote the bond between parents and child, reduce the risks of postpartum depression and social isolation for new parents.
Each family has the opportunity to receive up to six individual consultations, which usually take place at the family’s place of residence. Support for parents is provided by a professional Parent Emotional Support Specialist (PEP Mom).
During individual consultations, you can discuss your well-being issues with a PEP mom – what it’s like to be a mom and dad, what challenges the birth of a baby brings to the family, as well as any current topics about baby development and care (breastfeeding, excessive crying, sleep, daily rhythm, etc.).
Parent educational support groups are held both in person and remotely. During group sessions, parents gain knowledge about various topics related to the healthy development of their child and emotion regulation.
- You can apply to participate in the program:
- families with a newborn up to 4 months old;
- at least one of the child’s parents has a declared and actual place of residence in the territory of Riga Municipality;
- You can fill out the questionnaire on the website www.piedzimstotberninam.lv or contact us by phone +37127333100 , or write an e-mail: piedzimstotberninam@sosbca.lv .
The service is financed from the budget of the Riga Municipality. The allocated funding for 2025 is 252,000 euros.
Information prepared by: Antra Gabre, Project Coordinator of the External Communication Department of Riga Municipality, e-mail: antra.gabre@riga.lv