The Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) serves children ages 3–6 who are experiencing behavioral, social-emotional, or developmental challenges that affect their ability to safely participate in school and community activities. PEP is a research-based early intervention program that not only supports children but also empowers families to be active partners in their child’s growth.
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District is proud to be the only certified PEP expansion site in California and the only program of its kind in the nation embedded within a public school district. This innovative model seamlessly bridges early intervention and education, equipping children with the skills they need to thrive while providing families with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to support their child’s development well beyond program participation.
Children attend a specialized PEP classroom two days per week, receiving structured, skill-based instruction focused on emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, delayed gratification, compliance, and peer interaction. At the same time, caregivers participate directly in the program, receiving training, modeling, coaching, and practice in evidence-based strategies. Parents are not passive recipients—they are the primary agents of change, supported through Behavior Skills Training (BST), data-informed behavior plans, and real-time feedback.
PEP is trauma-informed, relational, and strengths-based, emphasizing consistency, skill-building, and acceptance rather than punishment or exclusion. By addressing early behavioral challenges and strengthening parent-child interactions, PEP interrupts patterns that often lead to repeated discipline and long-term difficulties.
Families interested in learning more or participating in PEP can contact Chelsea Matz (Gould), Coordinator of Early Intervention and Mental Health, at chelsea.matz@lmsvsd.net.
