Mother and Child Education Center

Mother & Child Education Center has offered practical help to thousands of pregnant women in the greater Portland area since its founding in 1971.

All our services are free. Established in Portland in 1971, MCEC offers a judgment-free space for anyone who is parenting including expectant women, single fathers, and families facing challenges such as lack of housing, poverty, fleeing domestic violence, refugee or immigration status, DHS involvement, substance abuse, or trauma.

We strive to empower clients to gain healthy parenting habits and to achieve personal goals such as self-sufficiency, a healthy environment for children, and a voice for advocating for themselves and their children.
In a world that can be overwhelming, Mother & Child welcomes all parenting into our safe space to offer the most appropriate resources – in house and from the greater community – to help before, during, and after pregnancy. We recognize that parenthood can be both a joyful and a challenging journey; and we creatively assist all people in meeting these challenges and needs.

M+C Relies on help from our community!

Mother and Child Education Center is an independent nonprofit organization, governed by a volunteer board of directors. MCEC is supported by donations, grants, and events.

We are staffed by interns, volunteers, and a few paid staff. We hope to begin taking volunteers again in the near future. We are very proud that we have been able to remain open providing much needed services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, serving more than 2,400 families, even teaching classes remotely via Zoom.