Extra Support for Parents Volunteer Service
A Program of the IWK Health Centre

Extra Support for Parents (E.S.P.) Volunteer Service is an outreach program of the IWK Health Centre. We provide in-home, volunteer support to parents of new babies. E.S.P. families are facing difficult or stressful situations, such as twins or triplets, single parenting, or being new to the Metro Halifax area.

E.S.P. volunteers are fully screened, receive on-going training and support, and provide a listening ear and caring help to families in their homes. Our amazing volunteers make a difference every day!

Currently volunteers are needed to support families in all of Metro, but especially Clayton Park, Spryfield, Dartmouth and Sackville. Training and ongoing support is provided to all volunteers.

E.S.P. is a flexible way to volunteer!

• You can volunteer on the days and times that work for you.
• You don't have to volunteer the same day & time each week.
• We will match you with families in the area where you choose - for example, close to your home, work, or school.
• If there are times during the year when you cannot volunteer (i.e., summer, holidays), we can work around that.
• Most often, we can work with your specific interests. So if you want to support parents with twins, single mothers, or families who are new to Canada, let us know! If you want to help a mother breastfeed in difficult circumstances, or support a family with a special needs child, we can arrange that.
• If you would like to volunteer, but you don't have child care for your own children, let us know. We may be able to work something out.

If you can commit to giving three hours each week to a family in our community, call us!