Leadership Opportunities
The little people have a lot to tell us, if we listen carefully with our eyes, ears, hearts and an open mind. They help us learn who they are and how to care for them!
- Debra, PEPS group leader
Volunteers lead Newborn, Second Time Around and Baby Peppers groups. All are facilitated peer support groups with parents and babies attending together; formats vary slightly according to the child's age. Newborn and Second Time Around groups are formed as needed, while Baby Peppers is on a set quarterly schedule.
Newborn
Starting age 0-4 months. Meetings rotate between group members' homes and are 2 hours long. About 60% of newborn groups meet in the evenings or on weekends and may include both parents, 40% are daytime groups and usually involve the primary caregiver and baby. Evening/weekend groups usually include 5-7 couples and 1 or 2 solo parents, all attending with their babies. Daytime groups typically have 10-12 families with just one parent and child attending.
Second Time Around
Parents with second babies in the 0-4 month range can attend Second Time Around groups - very similar to the Newborn program except that the infant has an older sibling who stays at home, and the meetings are site-based. One parent, usually mom, attends with the newborn and discussion topics broaden to include welcoming a new sibling into the family. Second Time Around meets in the evenings, for 1.5 hours. Sessions run for 11 weeks, and a typical group size is 6-10 families.
Baby Peppers
Starting age 5-12 months. Baby Peppers logistics accommodate babies in this more active stage of life. Meetings are during the day and are site-based in Wallingford, Queen Anne, West Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond and Snohomish County. Groups run for 11 weeks (8 during the summer) and meetings last 1.5 hours. Typically one parent attends with babies and groups include 10-12 families.
