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PEP Family Resiliency Program

FAQs for Participants

The PEP Family Resiliency Program is a FREE 8-week online program for parents and caregivers to support children’s mental wellness, resiliency, and success in school.


Parents and caregivers can learn tools each week to help their children in a support group setting.
About the program: Classes in English, Spanish, and Amharic will be offered on select evenings. We do not do simultaneous translation due to the nature of the program. Classes meet 1 time a week on Zoom and each class is 1.5 hours long.

Registration Questions

Why do I need to give you my phone number and email address?
PEP will use your phone number and email address to send you links, reminders, and encouraging notes, so it is important to have them on file. And any participant that engages in 5+ classes and successfully completes the evaluation, will receive an emailed gift card of $50.
Will my immigration status be affected if I participate in this program?

PEP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We do not capture or report any information on participant immigration status.

What if I don't have an email address?
If you don’t have an email address, you can create one for free with a web-based email provider, such as Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, or Hotmail. Please visit the website for instructions on how to create a free account. We use email to reach out to you throughout the program. A valid and working email address must be provided for a gift card to be emailed.
My contact information has changed since I registered, how do I update it?
Please send a message to your Facilitator or Engagement Coordinator through Remind (email or text) or email frp@PEPparent.org.
How does PEP use my personal information and how will it be protected?
Information gathered in the registration form will not be used for any other purpose than to verify your eligibility in this program and to be reported in the aggregate to our grantmakers and stakeholders.
What if I don't have a smartphone or computer to join the session?

The PEP Family Resiliency Program uses Zoom to facilitate programming. Participants can also use a tablet, iPad, desktop computer, or laptop.

What do I need to join the program? What if I don't have or I never used a Zoom account?

The PEP Family Resiliency Program meets on Zoom as a meeting which requires participants to have a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Each cohort of participants is assigned a Zoom meeting ID that participants may click and enter the meeting room when class begins. You do not need to download the app to your phone or computer in order to join the meeting.
Please see this link to find out more information on joining Zoom meetings.

Program Questions

Who can participate in the PEP Family Resiliency Program?

The PEP Family Resiliency Program is open to parents and caregivers of children ages 4-18 who attend public school in the following Maryland counties: Montgomery, Dorchester, Howard, and Frederick.

What if something comes up and I need to drop out of the program?
Please alert your Facilitator and Engagement Coordinator or send us an email at frp@PEPparent.org. You are welcome to participate in the program at another time.
What disability accommodations do you provide to participants in this program?
We want to make the PEP Family Resiliency Program accessible to all parents and caregivers. By using Zoom, we can take advantage of its captioning and transcription functionality. Our encouraging reminders are sent via email, and we also make phone calls and send text messages through Remind or WhatsApp to participants who prefer communicating that way. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to frp@PEPparent.org or call our office at 301-929-8824.
Can I invite a friend to this class?
Your friend will be unable to join you in your current program, but please invite them to register for the next session. The program is offered every fall, winter, spring and sometimes summer.
Why does my camera need to be on?

We require cameras to be on to encourage interaction, promote group problem-solving, and connection. The PEP Family Resiliency Program provides parents and caregivers with small, support-group style cohorts.
We understand that every family and home environment is different. Zoom allows any participant to blur their background. Please see this article on how to change this setting on your phone or computer.

What if something comes up and I can't attend one session?
We understand that life happens. To receive the gift card a participant must engage in 5 or more classes to qualify for the evaluation, and then complete the evaluation. This means you can miss 2 classes and still qualify for the evaluation (you must engage in at least 5 classes to qualify for the evaluation).
Do I have to participate or can I just listen to what others say?
We encourage you to participate by speaking up, using the chat, and responding to questions and comments to get the maximum benefit of the program.
My Wi-Fi/internet is not working well during class, what should I do?
Joining by phone or tablet/iPad: To try to improve your internet connection try turning your phone’s connection on and off within airplane mode.
Joining on a laptop or desktop: If you are using home-based internet or WiFi, try moving closer to your modem and closing/discontinuing use of extra apps and programs.
Can I bring my parenting partner (significant other, grandparent, or other) to class with me?
You may bring your parenting partner with you; however, we ask that you share one screen, and we only allow one gift card per family/household.
What are the class topics?

How to Manage Change and Transitions
Raising More Motivated and Cooperative Kids
Emotion Coaching—Responding to Your Child’s Strong Emotions
Understanding and Supporting Children’s Mental Health Needs 
When to Set Limits and When to Let Go
Managing Your Anger When It Flares

Gift Card Questions

How do I receive the $50 gift card?
A participant must engage in 5 or more sessions to qualify for the evaluation. After successfully completing the evaluation, a participant will receive an emailed gift card (to the email you registered with).
How should I handle the gift card?
Gift cards should be handled like cash; if the gift card email is deleted or lost, it will not be replaced.
When will I receive my gift card?
Participants who successfully complete 5 or more sessions and complete the evaluation will receive a digital gift card via email within 6 business days.
Do I still get a gift card if I took fewer than 5 sessions?
If a participant attended four classes or fewer, they are ineligible to take part in the evaluation process and cannot receive a gift card. Participants are welcome to take the program over again in the future, provided more classes are offered.
Participants must have registered for class and attended at least 5 classes in the same season (i.e. Winter 2024) to be eligible to participate in the evaluation.
Per our grant guidelines, we can offer one gift card to a participant per one household. A household is defined by people that live in one house together as a unit

Our Partners

For More Information

Please contact us at FRP@PEPparent.org or (301) 929-8824.