Who We Serve
PREPARES offers support and activities for families from pregnancy to their child’s fifth birthday. Many of the families we serve are struggling to provide essentials for their children including basic baby supplies, food, medical care, transportation and adequate housing. Some simply lack a natural support system to provide companionship and mentoring. Our services are free of charge and open to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
We offer services in both English and Spanish
Basic Needs
PREPARES helps to provide essential needs to new moms and their children through a variety of ways:
- PREPARES bag filled with a layette and diapers when a new mom is discharged from the hospital
- PREPARES Baby Closets are run by a number of parishes throughout the state and offer access to clothing, diapers and other essential needs items for children to the age of five. See the map for the location nearest you.
- Community Baby Showers for new moms to welcome her baby and provide items like clothing, diapers, car seats and strollers
- PREPARES also helps families learn about resources available in their community that may be able to assist them with other needs such as food banks and health care.
Parent Support Groups
Parent Support Groups provide regular meetings and activities with other parents to enhance parenting skills and provide a supportive environment for one another.
Play Groups
Play Groups provide an opportunity for mothers of pre-school children to get together, along with their children, on a weekly basis. These groups foster a learning environment for the children while creating a supportive environment for the moms to build relationships with each other. Creating communities like this are important for moms who lack a natural support network of family and friends close by.
“This is a way immigrants can build relationships and build an extended family.”
Play with Love Facilitator
Companions
Family Companions offer support to parents during a time of need. A Family Companion is a volunteer who wants to share an unconditional relationship with a parent in their community. Companions are there to give the support and confidence parents need in the first, important months and years of your child’s life. Companions and parents are encouraged to meet in-person on a regular basis.
“She has become an angel to our family.”
Mother of six about her family companion
Housing & Other Services
Housing and Shelter are challenges for many families across the state.
While PREPARES does not directly assist with housing, we encourage you to contact WA 2-1-1 to learn more about the services that may be available to you.
