The Empowering Journey with Parents as Teachers: Supporting Families Overcoming Trauma
Ryanne Zielinski, PAT Program Director, left, Jill Madison, PAT Program Coordinator, right.
Meet Samantha, a resilient 19-year-old mother of a delightful two-year-old child diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Holding down a job while addressing her son’s unique challenges has proven a complex task. Consequently, she relies on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to meet the costs of running a household and providing for her son’s care. Despite her circumstances, Samantha carries an optimistic outlook, which she attributes to her interactions with the staff of Community Youth Services’ Parents as Teachers (PAT) program.
“I eagerly anticipate the visits from the PAT parent educators,” shares Samantha, her voice filled with hope. “They guide me towards becoming the mother I’ve always aspired to be. They show me ways to engage with my son and help me navigate the ever-present stress I experience.”
Ryanne Zielinski, the dedicated Director of the Parents as Teachers program at Community Youth Services, shares this sentiment. “We are bestowed with the profound privilege of sowing seeds of hope in the families we serve. Our parent educators enhance parental understanding of early childhood development, enrich parenting practices, enable early detection of developmental delays and health issues, boost children’s readiness for school and their eventual success, and prevent child abuse and neglect.”
The Parents as Teachers Program, backed by over thirty years of research and impact, supports families and their children aged 0-5 years. The compassionate staff at PAT are well-versed in early childhood development and make regular home visits to empower parents, bolstering their parenting skills. Our home-visiting professionals meet families where they’re most comfortable, typically in their homes. During these visits, they evaluate family needs and collaborate with parents to set realistic, achievable goals.
Home visitors provide indispensable information and resources, ensuring that parents feel confident in their children’s emotional, behavioral, and physical development. Each personal visit addresses Parent-Child Interaction, Development-Centered Parenting, and Family Well-Being. Our parent educators use partnering, facilitating, and reflecting in their work with families to promote parental resilience, enhance understanding of parenting and child development, and foster children’s social and emotional competence, thereby strengthening protective factors.
Kristen Olson left and Katrina Land, right are both Parent Educators.
“Parents are indeed their children’s first and most influential teachers,” Ryanne emphasizes. “Our team illustrates how parents can facilitate their child’s learning through play. We supply materials for parents and children to engage in creative, fun-filled activities, games, and crafts. We share comprehensive information about every stage of their child’s development and address any queries or concerns.”
Besides home visits, PAT assists parents in connecting with other families and building a supportive community network. This connection is especially vital for parents grappling with stressors like homelessness, financial struggles, and the burden of generational poverty. The opportunity to interact with parents experiencing similar challenges is a key part of PAT’s impact in helping parents succeed.
Savanah Lopossa, Lead Parent Educator
David, a father of a 4-year-old, reflects, “Parenting can be tough. It’s easy to feel inadequate as if I’m not doing enough and continually falling short. That’s why the PAT staff is so essential to my family. They remind me that I’m not alone and that I can indeed rise to this challenge. They help me recognize my strengths as a dad, while gently pointing out areas for improvement.”
Parents as Teachers cultivate strong communities, flourishing families, and children who are healthy, safe, and ready to learn. “We’re not just fostering healthy families. We’re nurturing healthy communities,” adds Ryanne. “It’s a privilege to be part of something so meaningful. I hope that the seeds we plant grow into thriving communities by empowering families and helping all children reach their full potential.”