PAT Participants--- Who is Eligible?
PAT is designed to provide practical, effective parenting tools for all families in the Abilene school district. It is a voluntary program available to all parents, including first-time and single parents. The services are provided free of charge, and there are no income guidelines for eligibility.
Families interested in applying for the program can call the PAT office or e-mail a parent-educator (available on the home page).
From time to time, the number of families interested in PAT exceeds the number of parent educations available to serve those requests. In that case, families can select to have their name added to the wait list. Families on the wait list can expect:
~to be contacted by a PAT educator-- family information (names, address, phone number, names, and birth dates of children) will be collected. Families will be informed of an approximate time that they will have to wait to receive a conformation letter along with a PAT brochure. This letter will include an opportunity to get development handouts via mail while on the wait list.
~to receive the monthly newsletter
~to be invited to participate in play groups and group meetings
Services
PAT services include 4 components:
*Personalized home visits by trained parent educators who help prepare parents for the important job of parenting, provide timely information about things to expect as child grows and develops, and suggest practical ways for parents to encourage their child’s development.
*Group meetings where a professional speaks to parents about particular topics of interest such as sleep issues, nutritional issues, toilet training, etc.
*Periodic language and development screenings to assure that children do not reach kindergarten age with an undetected health problem, special need or development delay.
*Play groups, where parents and their children explore PAT playroom together. During play groups, parents have an opportunity to talk with other parents and a parent educator. Children learn and benefit by observing and playing alongside other children their own age.
What does PAT offer Parents and Children?
Parenting Education includes:
*Techniques for developing positive self-esteem in children.
*Realistic parenting techniques to help guide a child’s behavior.
*Activities which can be done in the home to promote the child’s development.
*Techniques for encouraging problem-solving.
Children in PAT learn:
*Language skills, intellectual development skills and motor skills.
*Social skills, including healthy relationships with adults and peers and appropriate ways to manage anger.
*Play experiences that are educational as well as fun.
*The significance of their family’s values.
Advisory Council
An internal advisory council assist with planning, implementation and support of the local program. Members include parents enrolled in the program, PAT staff, a USD 435 administrator, and other area child care personnel.
Abilene PAT is also active in the Quality of Life Coalition which serves as an external community advisory committee. Through this contact, local program numbers and information is shared with approximately 50 other community organizations.
