Alaska's
Parents as Teachers (PAT) program provides parent education and family
support to families of young children in more than 50 communities and
villages across the state. A variety of agencies sponsor Alaska's PAT
programs, including school districts, Alaska Native associations,
tribal governments, health organizations, and non-profits. Some
programs serve families throughout pregnancy until their child turns
three years of age, while others continue to serve families until their
child enters kindergarten.
The RurAL CAP (Rural Alaska Community Action Program) PAT program, for
example, served 343 families (429 children) in 17 communities across
the state last year. Among these were Kodiak, Mountain Village,
Savoonga, Marshall, and Alakanuk, to name a few.
Certified parent educators work closely with parents, providing
information and tools to assist them in helping their children reach
their full potential. Parents receive valuable information on each
stage of development and learn fun activities that capture teachable
moments in everyday life that will enhance their children's language
development, intellectual growth, social development, and motor skills.
This holistic approach includes home visits as well as regular group
socials.
Group socials vary from community to community, based on interest,
community needs, and the time of year. Parents made books with their
children at a social event in Alakanuk last fall.
"Group socials are a good way for children to interact with and get to
know other children as well as for parents to share ideas and have fun
with other parents," said Alice Edmund, Alakanuk's Family Visitor. "And
we always work in some important information into the program. At this
event, we talked about the importance of brushing teeth and baby bottle
tooth decay and distributed toothbrushes for the children, compliments
of the YKHC dental department."
For more information on Parents as Teachers Programs in Alaska, please
contact Melissa Pickle, Parents as Teachers Alaska State coordinator at
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or (907) 865-7345.
