Parent as teachers program wins national award

MHCC’s Parent as Teachers (PAT) program, a part of Childhood Development and Family Support, will receive the national Losos award of $2,500 for their services rendered to the community.

The PAT program will use its prize money to sponsor a health fair at Head Start’s Rockwood Center Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. according to Susan Brady, the director of child development and family support.

The fair will feature helping parents properly install child safety seats, giving out bike helmets, conducting lead, diabetes and blood pressure screening as well as applications for Head Start and information about kindergarten sign-ups. There will also be snacks and nutrition information available as well.

The Rockwood Center does some kind of fair every year, Brady said. She said that in addition to PAT, there will be workers from Multnomah County and nurses who help with the health fair.

“The award was given for our program’s connections to other services, connecting families to other services in the community,” said Brady, adding that the services include health, housing, academic testing, clothing and food service.

“Whatever the family needs to support their child, the PAT either delivers the information or helps connect with existing resources,” she said.

The PAT program works by having monthly meetings with parents who want help with parenting skills, which PAT helps provide as well as several group sessions a month. The only requirement is that the parents have a child aged up to 5 years old.

The PAT program began around 10 years ago, when Head Start applied for a grant from the county to help provide the family and childhood development services in East Multnomah County.

Asked if Head Start saw a need for PAT to fill in East Multnomah County, Brady said, “Oh my, yes. Early Childhood is connected with school readiness and school success.”

The Losos award was named after Carolyn Losos, a childhood development advocate who has received many honors from such organizations as YWCA and the National Conference of Brotherhood-Sisterhood.

Parents interested in PAT services should apply at the Rockwood Center on 124 NE 181 Ave., Suite 130, located near the 181st MAX Blue line stop.

Advocate Staff