What We Do

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

Mother and Child Education Center is welcoming to all people, regardless of gender. 

Our services are free. Established in Portland in 1971, MCEC offers a judgment-free space for anyone who is parenting including expectant parents, single parents, 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.

Who We Are

Mother and Child Education Center is an independent nonprofit organization, governed by a volunteer board of directors. As a standard 501(c)(3), Mother and Child is not religiously affiliated. We do enjoy and appreciate support from many different religious denominations and organizations. 

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, performing tasks such as:

• Donation sorting
• Landscaping

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