Parent Empowerment Peer (PEP) Project

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Parent Empowerment Peer (PEP) Project—You Are Not Alone!

The PEP Project works to support families through emotional and practical support for families with an active or recently closed Kansas DCF case

Parent Empowerment Peer Specialists (PEPS) are caregivers with lived experience—serving as relatable mentors (someone who has ‘been there’)—to encourage and guide families through moments of fear, frustration or despair. 

Purpose & Vision

  • Empower caregivers and provide emotional support that helps families heal
  • Help caregivers build trust and confidence in their abilities navigating systems
  • Equip families with advocacy skills and mentorship that help them make meaningful, positive changes, leading toward safe, sustainable family reintegration.

Why This Matters

Families who have navigated challenging or complex experiences with child welfare and related systems often benefit deeply from having a PEP mentor who believes in their strengths and understands their journey.

This project recognizes that fostering emotional healing and building trusting relationships are foundational to supporting families as they engage, grow, and work toward successful reunification.

Services & Contact

For more about the PEP Project, training opportunities, or how to participate:

By centering lived experience, this project aims to transform both families’ experiences and the systems themselves.
Advocacy Services Referral Advocacy Services Referral
Support Group Registration Support Group Registration
Educational Series Registration Educational Series Registration
Service area map

Partners

Families together is Kansas’ federally designated Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) and Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F). We provide information, training, and individualized support to families of children and youth with disabilities, special health care needs, or developmental, learning, behavioral, or mental health concerns.

Website: https://familiestogetherinc.org/

Integrated Behavioral Technologies, Inc. (IBT) was established in 2002 to address the near-total lack of autism treatment services in Kansas, where an estimated 48% of the population lives in rural communities. IBT has developed a network of trained providers in cities, towns, and rural communities across the state to provide services that range from consultation and training in homes, schools, and communities to direct in-home ABA treatment ranging from 10 to 40 hours/week for each child.

Website: https://ibt-inc.org/

The Kansas Institute for Positive, Healthy, and Inclusive Communities (KIPHIC) is a non-profit organization
and state-wide network focused on building positive, healthy, and inclusive Kansas communities.

Website: https://kiphic.org/

Educating, training and supporting qualified, compassionate social workers.

Website: https://socwel.ku.edu/