USD 232 Parents as Teachers has earned a prestigious endorsement from the Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc., (PATNC) as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate, making it one of the top-performing home visiting affiliates within the PATNC’s international network. The official designation was made in October 2024 and will be valid for five years. This is the second time this program has earned this distinction. 

Being named a Blue Ribbon Affiliate affirms that USD 232 Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an exemplary program, delivering the highest quality of services to children and families in the USD 232 community. To earn the Blue Ribbon Affiliate status, the district program underwent a rigorous self-study and review process from the National Center. As a proud Parents as Teachers model, USD 232 PAT will continue to serve families and change lives for the better in our community.

“Achieving Blue Ribbon status demonstrates our dedication to providing evidence-based services and highlights our commitment to supporting families. This achievement brings us closer to our goal of empowering parents to raise children who grow to realize their full potential,” said Elizabeth Durkin, USD 232 Parents as Teachers Coordinator. “We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our staff has put in to achieve Blue Ribbon Affiliate status. It is an honor to work over the past two decades in a community that supports Parents as Teachers and recognizes the importance of learning from birth. We look forward to continuing this valuable service for years to come.”
 

About PAT

Parents as Teachers promotes the optimal early development, learning and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers. The PAT model is designed to achieve seven primary goals when implemented with fidelity:

• Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve positive parenting practices
• Provide early detection of developmental delays and connection to services
•  Improve parent, child, and family health and well-being
• Prevent child abuse and neglect
• Increase children’s school readiness and success
• Improve family economic wellbeing
• Strengthen community capacity and connectedness

Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families, and children that are healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The internationally-recognized evidence-based home visiting model is backed by more than 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Parents As Teachers National Center, Inc., is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Parents as Teachers affiliates operate in various settings, including health departments, hospitals, and schools. For more information regarding the USD 232 Parents as Teacher Program, contact Elizabeth Durkin at 913-667-1820 or visit www.usd232.org/pat.