We believe…
An informed, confident parent can be her own, and her child’s best advocate for school, for health, for life.
Pregnancy and parenthood provide an opportunity to help young women (and their partners) develop critical thinking, literacy and self-advocacy skills they will need to have healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries and thriving families. Young parents are eager for information; and, even families, cultures and countries that discourage formal education for women are willing to support learning if it leads to a healthier baby.
Simply Put’s materials provide women and families with evidence-based, culturally appropriate and entertaining pregnancy and parenting information, combined with joyful learning that builds on group dynamics, storytelling, art, reading, writing, singing and friendship to inspire and encourage a parent’s personal and intellectual growth in ways that will enrich their own and their child’s lives far beyond pregnancy.
Rather than create new programs or interventions, Simply Put’s materials, training and learning paradigm coordinates existing NGO and governmental agency messaging, ensures that health information is evidence-based and engaging, and builds the capacity of front-line health workers to provide accurate information and empowering literacy education.
To help young adults “find their voices and use their words” during the transformative experience of pregnancy, delivery and new parenthood, and support the transfer and growth of knowledge, compassion and wisdom from one generation to the next, our program’s goals are:
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To provide evidence-based, culturally appropriate pregnancy and parenting materials to underserved families that are attractive, comprehensive and easy to read, and serve as a catalyst for life-long learning and family literacy.
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To create opportunities for low-income women, girls and families to develop critical thinking, planning and decision making skills, build supportive social networks and access healthy work and living situations for themselves, their families and their communities.
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To teach healthcare providers, educators and communities how to use new tools and strategies to understand the needs of families and respectfully and effectively listen, communicate and support low-income women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and parenting.
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To bring communities together (including fathers, elders and leaders) to support pregnant women and mothers’ health learning and growth, and ensure families receive compassionate information, timely care and opportunities to thrive.