JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – The USD 475 Parents as Teachers program, which is made up of six total Parent Educators from the district and YMCA in Junction City, has been working with USD 475 families for over 20 years.The program, which encourages parents to be an advocate for their child and focus on families who have children newborn to kindergarten within the district’s boundaries, helps parents not only gain a voice in their child’s life, but also be able to have the knowledge and foundation to be able to promote their children’s wellness, while empowering themselves to advocate for the overall needs of each family member.
“Our Parents as Teachers program provides support to our community’s families with young children in a variety of ways. Parent educators are trained professionals that empower families with information about their child’s development and research-based strategies in which parents can use to support their child’s learning through home visits. PAT offers group connection events that allow for families with young children to meet and interact with other families of similar aged children, while providing a network of potential support to them,” said Stephanie Waterman, USD 475 Early Childhood Program Coordinator.
The USD 475 Parents as Teachers program has adopted curriculum that is grounded on the latest evidence-based research. Each parent educator is professionally trained to deliver curriculum that is individualized to each child based on their developmental milestones. Support is also established by home visits, group connections, resource networks, and providing child and caregiver screenings.