CPEA in the Neighbourhood
This program sets up small parent support groups who meet regularly.
Over time members of these groups often become great friends and parent allies for the parenting years ahead.
The groups are organised by a volunteer mum who endeavors to connect mum’s with children of a similar age
The purpose
The purpose is to bring together parents with young children for peer
support, encouragement, empowerment and friendship.
Peer support groups can help you:
- With a sense of company, belonging and friendship
- To have a welcome break for both you and your child from your everyday routine
- By discussing your child’s milestones and the new challenges of what your child’s age is presenting eg. Breastfeeding concerns, meal suggestions, behavior management and sleep problems
- And your child to develop close relationships with both the other parents in your group and their children
How do the groups work?
Once you have joined the CPEA and registered your interest with the
Mothers Group Coordinator, you will be placed in a group as soon as
possible. The benefit of being placed with parents who’s children are a
similar age to your is that you are able to learn and receive support
and understanding from mums and dads who are all having similar
experiences.
The coordinator hosts the first get-together to welcome members and to run a facilitated get-to-know-you session. At the end of the meeting, the group decides how they wish to proceed. For example a group of new parents may choose to meet weekly, rotating visits at each others homes. A group with older children may choose to rotate between home visits and park playing dates. The choice is up to each group.
Where are the groups held?
The groups first meeting is held in the Mothers Group Coordinator’s
home, so you can be comfortable feeding your baby, changing nappies or
just generally attending to your baby’s needs.
Regular meeting can be held in homes, at parks or in cafes, depending on the age of your children and your groups preferences.
Simply contact our Mothers Group Coordinator Alley Sullivan on 4636 3732 or email aleah_jay@hotmail.com . Pregnant women are more than welcome to register their interest prior to their baby’s arrival, so a parent support group can be started in the early months of having your new baby at home.
How to Get Started with Your Parent Support Group
Contact CPEA to register your interest, along with your child’s date of
birth, where you live and a little bit of information about you.
You’ll be contacted by the Parent Support Coordinator who will invite
you to come along to a facilitated session to get to know your
group. Your group will all have children the same age as
you. So if you are a new mum, you’ll be placed with other mums,
all with children of a very similar age.
At your first meeting, or preferably before, you will need to join CPEA. Membership
is $5 for 1 year and includes a range of other services that are of
benefit to families with young children in Toowoomba. Benefits
include:
- free access to our Mums, Bubs and Toddler Coffee education mornings
- a regular informative magazine
- access to an extensive parents library
- directory of parent and child related services in Toowoomba
- free entry into CPEA’s Nearly New Sale
We look forward to hearing from you soon.