Panhandle Health District’s (PHD) Parents as Teachers program has earned a prestigious endorsement from Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc., (PATNC) as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate, making it one of the top-performing home visiting affiliates within Parents as Teachers’ international network.
The official designation was made in October 2024. Being named a Blue Ribbon Affiliate affirms that PHD’s Parents as Teachers program is a high-quality member of the home visiting field, implementing the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with commitment. Families in the north Idaho community are positively impacted by the services delivered by this program. The program includes home visits with a trained education specialist, parent/guardian group connections, child developmental screening, and connections to community resources. It equips parents with knowledge and resources to prepare their children for a stronger start in life and greater success in school.
“To earn the Blue Ribbon Endorsement, we underwent a rigorous self-study and review process from the National Center. The process confirms that we are meeting Parents as Teachers’ standards of fidelity and quality,” said Kristine Kono, RN, BSN and PHD Parents as Teachers Nurse Manager. “Blue Ribbon Affiliates are exemplary programs, delivering the highest quality services to children and families.”
Implementation with quality and fidelity is vital in home-visiting programs as it determines a program’s effectiveness in accomplishing its original goals and intended outcomes. It also verifies that a program is being implemented as designed. Parents as Teachers’ rigorous endorsement process demonstrates an affiliate’s accountability and credibility to the community, its funders, elected officials, and the partner organizations with which they work.
“Earning the Blue Ribbon status for Parents as Teachers is a testament to the dedication and passion our parent educators have for serving families in our community,” said Kim Young, PHD Community Health Division Administrator. “I’m very proud of our team for making a difference and strengthening families to be the best they can be as role models in their children’s lives.”
About Parents as Teachers (PAT) builds strong communities, thriving families, and children that are healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The internationally-recognized evidence-based home visiting model is backed by more than 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Parents As Teachers National Center, Inc., is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Parents as Teachers affiliates operate in various settings, including health departments, hospitals, and schools, faith-based and non-profit organizations. For more information, visit parentsasteachers.org.
