PAT

Parents as Teachers is an evidence-based home visiting model providing a broad context of parenting education and　family support, and building protective factors, especially for those families in vulnerable situations. At its core, Parents as Teachers is relationship-based and parenting-focused. Our approach and curriculum focus on parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, and family well-being; on strengths, capabilities and skills; and on building protective factors within the family. Parents as Teachers　serves a range of families with high needs and offers services throughout the continuum from prenatal to kindergarten entry.

Program Goals

• Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve parenting practices
• Provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues
• Prevent child abuse and neglect
• Increase children’s school readiness and school success

Program Components include home visits (frequency of weekly to monthly is determined by the local program based on needs of the family); group connections; screening (health, vision, hearing, developmental); and connecting families to community resources.

The 2011 digital curriculum is grounded in the latest research and consists of parent-child activities, parent handouts, and parent educator resources that are available 24/7 wherever internet access is available. Embedded links take you quickly to subjects or handouts and the handouts can be printed in any quantity for the families being served.

Each visit plan includes a parent-child activity, parenting strategies to promote healthy development, and a focus on family well being. There is also a time for book sharing included in the visit.

Initial training for staff consists of 3 days of Foundational Training and 2 days of Model Implementation Training for Parent Educators. Supervisors are required to attend the 2 days of Model Implementation and encouraged to also attend the 3 days of Foundational Training.

National website http://www.parentsasteachers.org/ includes the following tools and resources:

• Logic model showing expected outcomes
• Overlay of at-risk demographics and the Parents as Teachers fit
• Parents as Teachers Affiliate Implementation Plan
• Table aligning Parents as Teachers outcomes with MIECHV benchmarks
• Interactive budget tool for implementation of Parents as Teachers

Contact information for Texas Parents as Teachers:

Elaine Shiver 214-363-8661 txpat@txpat.org