Parenting doesn’t come with a manual — but in Knox County, it does come with a village.
That’s the heart behind Triple P for Baby, a free, four-week parenting class now available to expecting and new parents through the Knox County Parent Support Initiative.
With sessions this September at Knox Community Hospital, local families have a new opportunity to build confidence, reduce stress and lay a strong foundation for their child’s future.
“This isn’t about being a perfect parent,” Susan McDonald, longtime coordinator of the Knox County Parent Support Initiative, said.
“It’s about feeling supported, having the tools you need, and building the kind of family you want.”
Triple P – for baby
Short for Positive Parenting Program, Triple P is an internationally recognized, research-based framework that gives parents practical strategies to raise happy, resilient kids. The baby version of the program is tailored specifically for those who are expecting or parenting an infant in their first year of life.
Each session is interactive and supportive — not a lecture. Parents explore everything from bonding with their baby and managing sleep or feeding challenges to navigating postpartum emotions and co-parenting dynamics.
“We try to keep our class size at no more than 15. You’re not sitting in a huge room of folks, but enough to know you’re not alone, and it’s not awkward,” McDonald said.
It combines traditional learning with an instructor and tools to use the knowledge in action.
“It’s great that these are in person. You’re starting out in the same boat with other people going through the same thing,” Tisha King, home visiting supervisor with Knox County’s Help Me Grow, said.
Help Me Grow, a longtime partner of the Knox County Parent Support Initiative, helps new and expecting families with home visiting services and developmental support. Their team recently trained staff to use Triple P strategies during home visits and hopes to expand offerings in the future.
King also noted that during these visits, many mothers are living in a kind of solitude away from the community. These classes are an opportunity to build a village.
“This is research-based work from a neutral stance. We appreciate old wives’ tales and things shared from family, but if you’re wanting neutral, research-based information, that’s what we offer,” King said.
The team behind the program sees these early classes as a critical investment not only in individual families but in the long-term well-being of the community. One of the biggest misconceptions about parenting classes is that they’re only for people in crisis. The Knox County Parent Support Initiative aims to flip that narrative.
“These classes are for every parent or caregiver living or working in Knox County. There is no income base. Our hope is that we start to normalize that every parent can benefit from classes like Triple P, even if they don’t have a pressing issue,” McDonald said.
The accessibility helps break down stigma and build solidarity. And for parents concerned about logistics? The program offers dinner, baby-friendly meeting spaces and child care reimbursements for older children.
The next Triple P for Baby session begins Sept. 16 at Knox Community Hospital.
Whether you’re nervous about bringing home a newborn, adjusting to postpartum life or just want to be the best version of yourself for your child — this program is for you.
“Part of it is giving yourself the permission to say, ‘This is how I’d like this to work.’”
“More than anything, it’s not scary. It’s really kind of fun, thinking about what you want to do to prepare for the baby, making sure the nursery looks good…this is just another way of helping your heart and brain prepare,” McDonald said.To sign up or learn more, click here. For consistent updates and information, follow their Facebook page.
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