Parents as Teachers OLD

Our Mission: To promote the optimal early development, learning, and health of children by supporting and engaging their families and caregivers.

Our Vision: All children will develop, learn, and grow to realize their full potential.

Parents and caregivers are their children’s first and most influential teachers. Your child learns more in the first few years of life than at any other time. How they grow and learn now influences their later development and their success in school.

Capital Area Healthy Start’s Parents as Teachers Program provides invaluable support during this critical time by actively engaging families to ensure their children are healthy, safe, learning, and ready for school.

Studies have shown that Parents as Teachers give parents and caregivers a strong foundation to guide their children to thrive in school and life. All young children and their families deserve the same opportunities to succeed, so give your child a strong start with Parents as Teachers!

Enrollment

Enrollment is open to all families in Leon County with a child between the ages of newborn to 3 years of age. If you would like to enroll in Parents as Teachers, please apply by filling out the form on our Connect page.

If you have any questions, please email Rebecca Kilpatrick, Parents as Teacher Supervisor at Rebecca@capitalareahealthystart.org, or call (850) 488 -0288 ext. 111.

What is Parents as Teachers?

Parents as Teachers is a free program for all families with children ages birth to age 3 and living in Leon County.

This program matches parents and caregivers with parent educators who schedule regular visits to enrich all parenting journeys. During the visits, these trained educators connect your family with resources to raise a child that is healthy, safe, and ready for school. So you can be fully confident in your role as your child’s first ─ and best ─ teacher!

Why is this Important?

As a parent, you are the first and most important teacher in your child’s life. Your child will learn more during their first few years of life than at any other time. Our parent educators are here to support you on your parenting journey by sharing:

Information about child development (including language, cognitive, motor, and social-emotional milestones)
Fun, educational activities you can do at home with your child
Strategies to strengthen the parent-child relationship
Support on parenting topics includes health and safety, nutrition, sleep, guidance and discipline, and attachment

Are There Benefits to Enrolling?

Since 1984, Parents as Teachers has been peer-reviewed, tested, and proven to help both children and their parents.

We help Children:

Score higher on kindergarten readiness tests
Improve problem-solving skills
Quickly advance in language and social development

We help parents:

Build confidence in their parenting role
Become more involved in their child’s early education
Connect with their children through play and reading time

What Does the Program Offer?

Since 1984, Parents as Teachers has been peer-reviewed, tested, and proven to help both children and their parents.

Personal home visits with a certified parent educator, so you can have a safe space for reflection.
Group connections for families to connect with each other. They are a mix of interactive parent-child activities, parent-education nights, and small group discussions with other parents throughout the year.
Annual developmental screenings for all children. The screening includes language, cognitive, motor, and social-emotional development, as well as hearing, vision, dental, and health.
A wealth of resources! Parent educators can connect you with resources that will help you meet your family’s needs, from food and financial assistance to new places to visit in the community for fun family outings.

Help your child be successful in kindergarten and beyond.

Employees