Parents as Teachers® is an evidence-based home visiting model, delivered by trained professionals.  Programs (called “Affiliates”) in Kansas follow the essential requirements of the model which provide minimum expectations for program design, infrastructure and delivery.

There are four parts to the Parents as Teachers® model.  As families engage in each of the following components of Parents as Teachers, they are likely to achieve key goals and outcomes:

• Personal Visits (consistent and planned home visits focused on family and child development)
• Group Connections (group activities which connect families engaged in Parents as Teachers)
• Resource Connections (connecting to resources available in the community)
• Child and Caregiver Screening (family well-being, vision, hearing, child development, etc.)

 Together, these services support families in meeting the following goals/outcomes:

• 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 well-being
• Strengthen community capacity and connectedness

Visit the Parents as Teachers National Center website for additional information: www.parentsasteachers.org.

Kansas Parents as Teachers programs partner with other home visiting and early childhood programs to promote access to high quality services for children and families in their communities.  Home visiting in Kansas includes several evidence-based and universal home visiting programs and approaches to support families and children from pregnancy until a child enters kindergarten.  Home visiting is a voluntary program that involves the family meeting with a trained, family support professional at a time convenient for families.  Home visitors provide new or expecting parents with resources to keep themselves and their children safe, healthy and nurtured.  Evidence based home visiting programs are proven to:  support healthy and thriving children; increase parenting knowledge and confidence; strengthen the bond between a parent and a child; and help increase school readiness and success.  For more information about the variety of home visiting programs in Kansas, visit  www.kshomevisiting.org.