Tools to Share your Love For PEPS!

~ By Wendy Wray, PEPS participant, Group Leader and Ambassador

PEPS is delighted to announce the new Share section of our website.

We've designed a slew of quick-and-easy tools to help folks who love PEPS spread the word, which will enable us to serve hundreds of new families in 2012.

Please put PEPS on your to-do list this new year by taking a few very simple actions to share information about PEPS within your community.

Although PEPS may seem ubiquitous, the truth is that we serve just 10% of all families having new babies in the Seattle area. While this amounts to an impressive 2,400 parents each year, PEPS has the capacity to include many more in our uniquely supportive parenting groups. We know that people love to hear about PEPS, we know 85% of PEPS participants learn about PEPS through a personal connection, and we aim to make it easy for you to help spread the word.

At peps.org/share, we've designed several "Share PEPS Tools" that make communicating information about PEPS with an extended community of friends, family, colleagues, health care professionals, parenting peers, and casual acquaintances, etc. as simple and comfortable as telling a best friend about your fantastic PEPS group.

With just 5 minutes and a click, you can dispatch one of these "Share PEPS Tools" and feel gratified that you've helped PEPS reach out to new families. Choose and use the "Share PEPS Tools" that fit you.

1. Email an Introduction ~ We've done the writing for you. Here you'll find five different ready-to-send email messages providing basic info about PEPS, with messages specifically tailored for: Expecting parents, Parent of a newborn (0-4 months), Parent of an infant (5-12 months), Expecting parent with at least one older child and Primary care-giver fathers with babies 0-12 months. Just add addresses and a personal note if you wish.
2. Community Communication ~ Reach out to folks whose jobs and/or community involvement connect them with families who are expecting or have new babies. We've prepared a fact sheet and brochures ready for you to download and share with members of community organizations providing services for parents and families. We've also provided specific tips for reaching out to doctors, midwives, doulas, social services providers, and other professionals working with women and families.
3. Information Around Town ~ Place PEPS information on your path around town. Moms and Dads often read bulletin boards at local coffee shops, community centers, family-friendly business, etc. Proprietors are usually delighted to lend a thumb tack and welcome you to leave information about PEPS.
4. Lead a Group ~ Encourage a friend, or consider leading a group yourself.  It's a great way to create another supportive PEPS circle in your life, and a terrific entry to PEPS for folks who may not have had a chance to participate when their kids were young. 
5. Become a PEPS Ambassador ~ Got more than a few minutes? Ambassadors volunteer in all sorts of creative ways from blogging about PEPS, to posting notice on local Listservs, or hosting a PEPS party.

If you've got questions or need a hand, please contact PEPS Volunteer Manager Cate Palmer (catep@peps.org).

A few words from you will help PEPS a whole lot! When you share your passion for PEPS, more families than ever will feel wonderfully supported as they embark on their parenting adventures. Thanks in advance!