The Ringgold County Public Health office believes that regular family health education can make a difference in the quality of life and well-being of the residents of Ringgold County. We sponsor an early-learning program called, “Parents as Teachers” or PAT.
PAT: Free Public Health Education
Ringgold County Public Health’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a voluntary early-learning program for parents of children prenatal to age 5.
- Early childhood family education is an excellent way to assist families in preparing their children for school and life successes.
- Internationally-recognized, PAT has demonstrated the effectiveness of empowering parents as their children’s first and most influential teachers.
Independent evaluations show significantly enhanced language, problem solving and social development by age 5 in PAT children. Also, PAT children score higher on standardized reading and math tests in early elementary grades.
What Does PAT Offer?
Parent Educators
Personal visits by Parent Educators. A parent educator will visit you in your home. You will learn about stages of development and how to encourage the best growth.
Periodic Screenings
Periodic screenings to ensure that your child has no undetected learning or developmental problems.
Resources Network
A network of resources that can help you with special services you may want.
Group Meetings
Group meetings where parents come to a central location to meet with other parents, hear experts speak on parenting topics, or share interesting activities with their child. Group meetings provide a chance for you to meet other parents of young children.
What Can You Expect from PAT?
- Parents as Teachers will inform you of what you can reasonably expect of your child at each stage of development.
- PAT will help you be a good observer of your child.
- PAT will help you have fun playing with your child and show you age-appropriate activities and materials.
Remember, Babies Are Born to Learn
Parents as Teachers is a good beginning for every child. In their earliest years, children learn more than at any other time in their lives. Parents need to know how to make the most of these crucial early-learning years, giving children the best possible start in life. PAT from Ringgold County Public Health can help lay a strong foundation for a child’s future success.