Parents as Teachers (PAT)
Giving every family a strong start.
Your child was born to learn and you are the most important teacher. Wood County Health Department’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a FREE home visiting program for expectant parents and
parents of children birth to 3 years old. A parent educator will focus on providing support, education, resources, and time for reflection to give parents and caregivers the tools to raise
a child that is healthy, safe, learning, and ready for school.
PAT's Vision: All children will develop, learn and grow to realize their full potential.
PAT's Mission: To promote the optimal early development, learning and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers.
Parents as Teachers is proven to:
Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development
Improve early detection of developmental delays & health issues
Increase children’s school readiness and success
Prevent child neglect and abuse
Free Home Visit
A visit from a parent educator engages families and children in their home environment regardless of their background or circumstances. Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their
full potential.
During a home visit, a parent educator will:
- Help plan for the arrival of a new baby
- Support families in creating a safe and nourishing environment
- Help parents understand early child development
- Provide screenings to watch for development delays
- Offer age-appropriate support and activities
- Connect you to other families and resources
This project is funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.