The program recognizes the unique gifts and capacities of each person and encourages participants to express their issues as they see them. The program emphasizes the connection between individual and community action. PEP encourages individual change through training sessions, trust team building exercises and discussions. PEP supports community action through participants projects to change and improve the community. The program is conducted by a trained facilitator, who provides 10 two-hour training sessions in values clarification, communication skills, problem solving, understanding the helping role, parenting, action planning, community assessment and community issues.
Participants generally commit one year to the program.
The program has reached over 165 adults from 11 communities and the York Correctional Institution. Participants have given over 1500 hours benefiting more than 1000 adults and children. Graduates credit PEP with improving their communication skills, increasing their awareness of positive parenting practices, recognizing new strengths and skills, increasing their knowledge of community resources, and learning how to work as a team. I yell less and listen more. The program is adaptable to many types of settings.