Starting a Group
What Affiliation with API Provides
Your API Support Group's affiliation will provide:
- An established network of like-minded parents, professionals and organizations throughout the world
- A Support Group listing on API's website with meeting times, locations and link to the Group website
- Access to API's library of research, news articles, and other materials
- Consultative and referral service
- Access to an email discussion list specifically for API Group Leaders, staff and board members
- A Support Group subscription to Attachment Parenting: The Journal of Attachment Parenting International, and to the API Leaders' newsletter, Connections
- Use of API's federal ID # to establish a bank account and to apply for state sales tax exemption in your locality (U.S. only)
- Shared benefits as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization: tax deductible donations and discounts for non-profits (U.S. only)
The Affiliation Process: How to Start an API Support Group
There are API Support Groups established all over the world. Groups usually meet monthly in a library, church, community center or someone's home. These Groups help parents find the support, information, guidance, and empowerment they need. Some API Support Groups are making progress with community outreach activities in order to educate parents and professionals unfamiliar with Attachment Parenting (AP).
If you are interested in starting an API Support Group in your area, please read The Eight Principles of Attachment Parenting and the Leader Guidelines carefully to see if you agree with them. We require Applicants to have a child who is at least eighteen-months-old when they apply. We strongly recommend that each Support Group have at least two Leaders to share responsibilities and provide checks and balances. Each potential Leader should fill out the Application for Approval as an Attachment Parenting International Leader
Applicants are required to pay an application fee of $25.00* (US). This can be paid with a credit card using PayPal by going here:
Applicants are required to be a member of API. If you currently attend an API Support Group, then the membership should be paid through your local Group. Once approved as a Leader, you will be required to pay your Leader Dues directly to API-HQ. If you are starting a new Support Group, you are asked to include payment for your yearly membership of $35* (US) with the application unless you are already a current member. You can also pay by credit card using PayPal by going here.
Each Applicant is required to read and participate in a dialogue about the API Leaders Manual during the application process. The manual includes information about:
- How to organize and lead meetings
- How to find a meeting place
- Meeting topics
- Group fundraising
- Useful forms
- How to publicize the Support Group
The manual is available online in our password protected Leader web pages. The password for the web pages or link for ordering the manual via PayPal will be made available to Applicants after they have completed discussions of their answers to the questions on the application form.
*Please note that only one application fee and membership is required for couples applying for leadership.
The completed application should be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to Lisa Feiertag, API Leader Applicant Liaison, P.O. Box 274, New Market, MD 21774 USA, or 800-850-8320. If enclosing payments for the application fee and/or membership fee, please use a check or money order payable to API. Applicants from countries other than the US should use an international money order or send payment through PayPal.
API also requires two recommendations for each Leader Applicant. These should be filled out and sent in by non-family members who are personally familiar with the Leader Applicant's qualities and parenting style. They should also be familiar with Attachment Parenting. The application and recommendation forms can be mailed or faxed upon request.
The completed recommendations should be mailed, faxed or e-mailed directly from the person recommending to Lisa Feiertag, API Leader Applicant Liaison, P.O. Box 274, New Market, MD 21774 USA, or 800-850-8320.
Receipt of your application will be acknowledged within five working days. Further correspondence is required before completing the application process. Upon approval of the application, we will send a letter of congratulations. The new Support Group will be listed on the API website and you will be invited to join the API Leaders e-mail discussion list.
Choosing a Support Group name: We request that Support Groups use "API" in the name to help prospective members know that it is affiliated with the larger organization. Also, we generally recommend that a Group's name reflects its location (community, city, county, or region) to make it easier for people to know if the Group is in their area, such as "API of Anytown" or "Any County API."
Support Group Requirements: Each year all API Support Groups must submit Evaluation and Financial Reports and pay a Support Group Affiliation Fee. The fee is due every October and costs $25 for US Support Groups. The Support Group Affiliation Fees vary for API's Support Groups in some countries outside the United States.
Required Reading:
By requiring the reading of approximately seven books we intend for Leader Applicants to be:
- knowledgeable about Attachment Parenting information, theory, and practice
- prepared to share ideas and resources with other parents
- able to use effective communication techniques when helping parents
In instances where the Applicant lacks experience with a particular Principle additional reading may be required. Materials other than the ones listed may be substituted at the discretion of the Director of Leader Applicants, and exceptions to our requirements will be made for non-English speaking Applicants.
While these books contain valuable information, they may also include some passages that do not follow API philosophy. For example, API does not support any reference to spanking or hurting children. Please use your own discretion in reading these books or in considering any parenting philosophy.
Applicants should read/view one material from each of the following categories:
Attachment Parenting Overview
The Attachment Parenting Book by William Sears and Martha Sears
Attachment Parenting by Katie Allison Granju and Betsy Kennedy
The Baby Book by William and Martha Sears
Our Babies, Ourselves by Meredith Small
Becoming Attached by Robert Karen
Science of Parenting by Margot Sunderland
Feed with Love and Respect
Adventures in Tandem Nursing by Hilary Flower
How Weaning Happens by Diane Bengson
Mothering Your Nursing Toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner
My Child Won't Eat by Carlos González
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Jack Newman and Teresa Pitman
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
Respond with Sensitivity
Connection Parenting by Pam Leo
Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids by Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson
Use Nurturing Touch
Babywearing by Maria Blois
Bonding by Marshall H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, and Phyllis H. Klaus
A Secure Base by John Bowlby
Tummy 2 Tummy Babywearing DVD
The Vital Touch by Sharon Heller
Engage in Nighttime Parenting
The Family Bed by Tine Thevenin
Good Nights by Jay Gordon and Maria Goodavage
Nighttime Parenting by William Sears
Sleeping With Your Baby by James J. McKenna
Sweet Dreams by Paul M. Fleiss
Practice Positive Discipline
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen
Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
Communication Skills
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
People Skills by Robert Bolton
