Family Support
SHIM nurtures neighbors to build healthy lives through family support, immigrant and refugee assistance, parenting classes, support groups and more!
Because a strong community starts at home, SHIM’s team works with parents on health and well-being, positive parenting, economic self-sufficiency and keeping their children safe at home.
SHIM Family Center is free to all families and provides home visits, child development screenings and group activities to families in need with children up to age five.
Families also participate in field trips, discussions with guest speakers, a weekly Family Group and monthly Family Council meetings. These activities allow families to spend time together, foster community and provide opportunities for English language development.
The South Hills is home to the largest community of refugees in the Pittsburgh region. For more than 20 years, SHIM has been providing comprehensive support to refugee and immigrant families who have resettled in the United States, helping them make a better life.
Family Support
SHIM knows that strong families need strong parents, so we provide opportunities for families to gather and learn. Families participate in field trips, discussions with guest speakers, a weekly Family Group and quarterly Parent Advisory Council meetings. These activities allow families to spend time together, foster community and provide opportunities for English language development.
For more information contact Amy Moon at amoon@shimcares.org or 412-892-4673 ext. 315.
Support Groups
Coming together to share experiences and build solid friendships helps communities build strength. Support groups at SHIM allow neighbors to come together in safe spaces to share their stories, offer encouragement and nurture one another. SHIM currently holds Women’s group, Men’s Group, Dad’s Group, and Family Group.
For more information contact Dawn Rees at drees@shimcares.org 412-892-4673 ext. 350.
Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC)
ISAC assists refugees and immigrants in accessing existing services like shelter, education, healthcare and legal support in Allegheny County. As one of five sites in the multi-agency partnership coordinated by Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh, interpreters are available to enhance communication.
For more information contact Eric Ross at eross@shimcares.org or 412-892-4673 ext. 345.
Walk-in Support
SHIM South Hills Family Center’s front office can help neighbors with a variety of needs, including reading mail, filling out forms, and faxing documents.
For more information contact Amy Moon at amoon@shimcares.org or 412-892-4673 ext. 315.
Nurturing Parenting Classes
SHIM’s Nurturing Parenting class helps local families learn the ins and outs of parenting. Once a week, SHIM’s instructors lead a curriculum focused on enhancing nurturing skills for parents and enabling families to flourish. The lessons are centered around positive self-worth, empathy, empowerment and strong will, structure, discipline and laughter, humor and play.
For more information contact Loredana Marinescu at lmarinescu@shimcares.org or 412-892-4673 ext. 310.
Home Visits
SHIM Family Center is free to all families with children up to age five living in SHIM’s service area and provides home visits, child development screenings and group activities to families in need.
For more information contact Loredana Marinescu at lmarinescu@shimcares.org or 412-892-4673 ext. 310.
Want to learn more about Family Center programs? Call 412-892-4673.
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SHIM also provides programming for kids ages 3-18 with Early Childhood Program, After School, Youth Mentoring, and Summer Camp.
Parenting can be tough, but SHIM’s Nurturing Parenting Class empowers parents to bond with their children and develop healthy relationships.
SHIM’s Nurturing Parenting class helps local families learn the ins and outs of parenting. This is especially useful since so many of SHIM’s families include foreign-born parents, who may be working to adapt to the culture of family life in America.
Once a week, SHIM’s instructors lead a curriculum focused on enhancing nurturing skills for parents and enabling families to flourish. The lessons are centered around positive self-worth, empathy, empowerment and strong will, structure, discipline and laughter, humor and play. The class is typically held at SHIM’s South Hills Family Center, though even during the pandemic, parents continued to come together virtually.
