Welcome!

We Parent Together

Founded January 2020

https://www.weparenttogether.com

WHO WE ARE:

We Parent Together is an inclusive program to welcome and support all human beings who parent. 

We Parent Together host sites provide a safe space and time for families of young children to gather together to support one another in the ups and downs of caring for our children. 

We Parent Together seeks to build community among parents of differing ages, races, ethnicities, cultures, income levels, faiths, abilities and disabilities, genders, orientations, and gender expressions, towards a more caring, humane, and peaceful society.

HOSTING GUIDELINES:

We Parent Together groups may be formed and sponsored locally under the auspices of any non-profit organization, such as a congregation or community center, that seeks to support all parents, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, culture, nationality or immigration status, income level, faiths, abilities/ disabilities, genders, orientations, gender expressions, and any other human demographic factor.

We Parent Together groups commit themselves actively to equality and inclusion of all parents and their children, and an ongoing group reflection on the ups and downs of the commitment to being an inclusive community.

We Parent Together sponsoring organizations commit themselves to maintaining Safe Child guidelines, including background checks for child care workers (when available/ provided); and maintaining appropriate general liability insurance on the facility where the group meets. 

We Parent Together groups should register with the main website (link to registration form HERE), but may maintain their own local chapter social media pages. Please send this contact information to our main page as well. International groups are welcome and encouraged.

We Parent Together groups should establish a leadership committee that covers the following roles:  social media/ communications; tracking finances; hospitality coordinator; program facilitator; child care (when feasible)

We Parent Together host sites should be accessible, clean, and reasonably well childproofed for the duration of the meetings. Consider whether prospective members may need access for wheelchairs or double strollers; or access to public transportation routes. Signage and/or a person greeting members and visitors at the entrance is helpful.

PROGRAM/ EVENT GUIDELINES:

We Parent Together groups are encouraged to organize their time together as follows:

Monthly Meetings: These take place at the designated host site. Child care may be provided per guidelines above (and if so, publicized in advance), or children may remain with their parents in the group. Each meeting should include: 

• A time to welcome new parents and explain the purposes of the group, and assist them with connecting to the ongoing communications of the group, as needed. 

• A time of ‘Open Space’ where parents may share joys and concerns within their families, personal lives, and/or among group members

• A time of reflection on our work of parenting--members of the group may take turns leading this time each month, using either a reflection from We Parent Together website, or a reading that is meaningful to that person. This might be something from one’s own religious or cultural tradition, as long as it is not disparaging to others; or another passage that is inspiring to them in their parenting journey. We Parent Together welcomes submissions of these reflections/ inspirational readings to our website, in order to encourage and inspire others around the world, and grow our community wisdom.

• A time for refreshments. Group members may also choose to take turns bringing treats to share. 

• A time for announcements regarding upcoming events

• A time for collecting freewill donations toward the incidental expenses of the group and/or child care costs. Donations may be offered to the host site to offset heating/cooling and/or janitorial costs. As the program grows and needs arise, donations may be requested to offset any administrative expenses. However, there is no set fee to join WPT or to register a group.

• A time for unprogrammed free play for children and parents, in an adequate space that has been reasonably well child-proofed.

Community Playdates: These events can be arranged on a monthly or more frequent basis, and should be in locations that are affordable, accessible, and welcoming of all members of the group. Possibilities might include a public library children’s wing; a community pool with baby area; a local indoor or outdoor playground.

Service Project: Service projects are recommended at least once a year and should be directed towards improving the lives of children who face adversity in the community (for example, due to poverty). Please share your ideas and projects and a brief description of how things went so we may include them on the WPT website.