PARENT ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAM INC

THE PEP FAMILY RESILIENCY PROGRAM (PEP-FRP) IS A FREE, EIGHT-WEEK, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, SUPPORT-GROUP STYLE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS STRENGTHEN THEIR CHILDREN'S CONFIDENCE, SKILLS, AND RESILIENCE. IN FY25, THE PEP-FRP WAS FULLY FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE MARYLAND DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES, MD COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCES COMMISSION, AND PRIVATE DONORS. OFFERED IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND AMHARIC, PEP-FRP CREATES A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACE WHERE PARTICIPANTS LEARN PRACTICAL PARENTING TOOLS AND APPROACHES THROUGH PEP-PRODUCED EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, FOLLOWED BY GUIDED DISCUSSIONS LED BY TRAINED PEP FACILITATORS FROM THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. GROUP DISCUSSIONS CENTER ON PARTICIPANTS' LIVED EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES, FOSTERING SHARED LEARNING AND MUTUAL SUPPORT. IN FY25, NEARLY 1,300 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS (REPRESENTING MORE THAN 2,250 CHILDREN) COMPLETED THE PEP-FRP FROM 4 MARYLAND COUNTIES: MONTGOMERY COUNTY, HOWARD COUNTY, FREDERICK COUNTY AND DORCHESTER COUNTY. PEP DELIVERS THE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEMS IN THE RESPECTIVE COUNTIES, WITH A PRIORITY ON OFFERING THE PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS LOCATED IN COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY. BASED ON EVALUATIONS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED BY PEP'S RESEARCH PARTNER NORC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE PEP-FRP SHOWS EVIDENCE OF HAVING A LARGE POSITIVE IMPACT ALONG 8 SUBSCALES: STRONGER PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP; STRONGER PARENT-CHILD COMMUNICATION; IMPROVED COOPERATION OF CHILD; IMPROVED PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO SUPPORT CHILD WITH SCHOOL WORK; IMPROVED PARENT SELF-SUFFICIENCY; IMPROVED PARENTAL SELF-EFFICACY; INCREASED POSITIVE AND DECREASED NEGATIVE PARENTING BEHAVIORS BY PRIMARY CAREGIVER; AND, IMPROVED PARENTAL ADJUSTMENT.

PEP'S WORKPLACE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO PARENTS IN THE WORKPLACE TO HELP THEM IMPROVE WORK/FAMILY BALANCE. WORKPLACE PROGRAM CLIENTS IN FY25 INCLUDED THE US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GITHUB, SERVING A COMBINED TOTAL OF 1,100 FAMILIES IN OVER 27 COUNTRIES. THESE FAMILIES ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF PEP PROGRAMS INCLUDING MONTHLY PEP MASTER CLASSES ON ENCOURAGEMENT, REDEFINING DISCIPLINE AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR; MONTHLY WEBINARS ON TOPICS SUCH AS "UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOR IN NEURODIVERSE CHILDREN,' "ANXIETY AND CHILDREN, AND "BUILDING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS IN CHILDREN; AND "ASK PEP" OFFICE HOURS.