Operation Threshold’s Parents As Teachers (PAT) program was established in Black Hawk County in 2015 with funding from the Shared Visions program of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. PAT is a free and voluntary home visitation program, parent education for families with children aged 0 through 5.
The goal of the PAT program is to encourage positive parenting outcomes and increase school readiness. It has been shown that education regarding positive parenting techniques can change family dynamics in a positive way. In addition, children who have received PAT services show higher test scores by third grade.
Participating families are assigned a home visitor who will visit the family up to twice per month. The visits can occur in the family home or at another agreed upon location. The program also offers group parent education sessions through Operation Threshold’s Nest program (see monthly Nest calendar here). The program also provides child screening to identify potential development delays and to provide parents with a resource network to assist families with other needs as they occur.
For more information contact Operation Threshold’s PAT program at (319) 292-1814.
