Healthy Steps & Parents as Teachers

Healthy Steps

Healthy Steps is a free program for all parents of children ages 0 to 3. It is designed to forge a relationship between health care professionals and parents to address the physical, emotional, and intellectual growth and development of small children.

A Healthy Steps health care specialist helps parents navigate developmental stages and possible problems into teachable moments. We get acquainted at the newborn visit or when requested by a clinician. Our goal is to meet at each well child visit.

Program Objectives

• Identify strengths and concerns of the child and family
• Enhance parents' understanding of their child's development
• Monitor child's growth and development
• Promote "goodness of fit" between child's behavior and parental expectations
• Assist in referrals to community resources
• Build a supportive alliance with family

Parents as Teachers Program (PAT)

Parents As Teachers is an international early childhood parent education and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten. The program is designed to enhance child development and school achievement through parent education accessible to all families.

Often accessed through the school district, the free PAT early learning programs are for all parents with children ages birth to 3. (The Kansas City area consortium programs provide funding up to age 3)

PAT offers:

• Research-based information on how children grow and develop
• Activities and toys to foster learning and nurture development
• Methods of positive discipline; new techniques for problem solving; realistic expectations of child behavior and attitudes that will raise children's self esteem

Services for members include:

• Regular visits by a certified parent educator
• Parent and child activity centers, group meetings, and developmental screenings and newsletters