Parents as Teachers

1. Parents as Teachers All children will learn, grow and develop to realize their full potential

2. What is Parents as Teachers? • An evidence-based home visiting program • A voluntary primary prevention program prenatal to age five • A universal access program that can be targeted • A strengths-based family education and parent support program

3. PAT Core Beliefs • All parents deserve support as child’s first teacher • Child’s early years are critical for optimal development • Respect for traditions and cultures is essential • Services should be adapted to meet the needs of the family and community • Established and emerging research should be the foundation of parent education/family support.

4. PAT Goals • Increase parental knowledge of child development and improve parenting practices • Provide a means for early detection of potential learning problems. • Prevent and reduce child abuse and neglect • Increase children’s school readiness and school success

5. Outreach • PAT adapted and targeted for at-risk families • Eligible family must be low income and have a pregnancy and/or or child under age 1 at the point the family is enrolled. • Outreach and recruitment plan reflects targeted population

6. Personal Visit Component • Delivered in the home • Weekly or twice a month based on need • Weekly caseload = 12-14 families • Twice a month = 24 -25 families • Born to Learn Curriculum is used

7. Parent Group Meetings Component • Frequency = Once a month minimum • Include child development information • 4 types: • parent-child interaction, • small ongoing groups, • presentation-plus, • community events

8. Annual Screening Component • Development, health, hearing and vision • PATNC approved screening tools (ASQ, Denver, etc) • Parents engaged in the process • Parents receive verbal and written summary • Sensitivity to family’s culture and primary language • Can be contracted out

9. Resource Network Component • Help families overcome barriers to needed resources • IFSP • Coordinate services with other providers • Assist in transition out of program to next placement • Participate in community efforts to improve services for families

10. Staff Qualifications • 4 year degree and supervised experience working with young children and their parents. is preferred • However, individual programs may include additional or alternative educational or work history requirements that they find appropriate and acceptable to meet the needs of their community.

11. Born to Learn Institute Prenatal-3 Years • Neuroscience research • Sequences of early childhood development • Effective personal visits • Facilitation of parent-child interaction • Ideas for parent groups • Ways to link families to community resources • Service to diverse families • Red flags in areas of development, hearing, vision and health • Recruitment and program organization • Follow-up Day

12. Born to Learn™ Curriculum • Based on child development and neuroscience research • Prenatal-36 months visit plans (for monthly, bi-weekly and weekly visits) • Child development and human diversity resources for parent educators • Parent handouts – 2 reading levels • 16 segment video series • Available in English and Spanish

13. Core Training Costs • PAT P-3 Institute = $520 • Born to Learn Curriculum = $295 (each home visitor must have one) • Follow –Up Day – included

14. Getting started • Begin working with a PATNC Planning Consultant • Submit an initial PAT Program Plan • Register for training • Complete the Born to LearnTM Institute • Receive certification and affiliation notices • Annual renewal of certification – in-service requirement

15. National model — local program

16. PAT Resources • PAT How to Implement a PAT Program • PAT Standards and Quality Indicators • PAT Illionis State Office – Ounce of Prevention Fund http://www.opfibti.org/pat or www.parentsasteachers.org