About Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a voluntary family education and support program for parents of young children. The program is based on the beliefs that parents are their children's first and most influential teachers and that the early years lay the foundation for children's success in school and in life.

PAT provides the information, support and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.

The PAT model focuses on families with children from before birth to kindergarten entry, and includes these four components:

Personal/home visits by certified parent educators
Parent group meetings about early childhood development and parenting
Developmental and health screenings for young children
Linkages and referrals to community networks and resources

Read more about the NC PAT organization for parents and professionals by browsing through this web site. Click here to find a program in your area from the PAT National Center web site. Also check out the latest local training schedules for PAT professionals under the "For PAT Professionals" menu at left.