Education Series - Helping parents become lifelong teachers to their children

April 12, 2024

Every year, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) partners with local nonprofits who are champions of improving the lives of youth and teens.

In a new weekly series, the CCUW will introduce the 2024 funded programs working in this impact area, highlighting how education is more than just grades and attendance.

This week – Catawba County Partnership for Children – Parents as Teachers program. 

BY JOHN BAILEY

Catawba County United Way

“Our goals are to reduce neglect, improve school readiness and increase confidence with parents to have a relationship with their child's schoolteachers and administration,” PAT Team Leader Cindy Boger said.

Parents As Teachers is an evidence-based and literacy-based program that provides bi-monthly home visits to parents, grandparents, foster parents, or other caregivers of young children ages prenatal to 5 years, using a curriculum tailored to the specific age and needs of the enrolled child/children, according to a recent report by the agency to the CCUW. 

"These families are getting that early intervention, so those kids are more successful and hopefully be contributing to society in a positive way," Boger said.

The PAT Educators provide information to parents about child development, safety in the home, and the importance of talking with, reading to, and actively playing with young children.

Something that makes the program unique is its focus on meeting parents where they are emotionally and literally with the home visits.

A typical visit starts with a parent/child activity which usually revolves around reading.

Leonor Tobar, PAT Latino Specialist, said she always wants parents to be more involved with their child’s reading habits.

"It's so fun when I visit a home and the kids say I got a book, do you want to read it to me. I pass it to the parent and sometimes it's in English and they aren’t sure they can,” Tobar said.

“I tell them to just tell the story in the book as they see it. I think the self-esteem of the parent grows when they see their child having fun with them. That's how you make memories.”

A review of any milestones in the child's development is another part of every home visit along with talking about a specific topic like discipline, nutrition, safety, sleep or potty training. Many times, it’s something the parent has asked about or brought up during a visit.

Boger remembered a recent teaching moment at the home of a large family with an autistic child.

"There was a meltdown between him and his brother. We helped walked the mom through how to handle that situation and calm things down," Boger said.

Then there is the opportunity to share information about local resources with parents.

"That could be helping them find a job, finish their education, mental health, physical health resources," Boger said. "The needs of the parents can certainly impact the child, which we always try to address."

Overall, a good day is any day PAT educators get to make a home visit. They are sometimes challenged by parents not being able to keep the meeting for various reasons.

"My passion is helping parents so they can help their children,” Boger said. “If we get them involved early, they're going to keep being impactful to their kids.

"I always tell them, play with your child every day, or read a book. Just take that time to be with your child."

The PAT program also provides developmental screenings for children every year. It gives parents the opportunity to learn if their child needs any other services to help with their development.

This is another example of how PAT works as a bridge between parents and resources in the community.

In addition to the home visits, PAT provides many opportunities for families to attend group learning events, support groups, and playgroups. In February, they worked with other non-profits, to host a community baby shower.

The program works with several teen parents, who Boger said can be challenging, but they are also some of PAT’s greatest successes.

“I can think of many teen parents I’ve worked with that have become some of the best parents I know,” she said.

The program also works to make sure the teen parents in the program graduate from high school.

“I love what I do, sure when they cancel it’s frustrating,” Tobar said. “But, seeing these parents growing with each visit, it’s awesome.”

Last year, PAT worked with 159 individuals, according to its United Way End of Year Report.