Atlantic, IA –The Parents as Teachers (PAT) program through Cass County Public Health has immediate openings for up to ten families. PAT is a free program for families with children ages 0-5, focusing on interactions between parents and their children, and traditionally provides home visits to help young children grow up healthy, safe,and ready to learn.

Due to the current pandemic, the PAT educators are meeting virtually with families through video calls. Nancy Gibson, PAT Coordinator, says “Parents really are their children’s first and most influential teacher. Parents as Teachers has been providing services to Cass County residents since 1998, and we are a credentialed, evidence-based program.”

During a PAT visit, the PAT educator works on getting a complete health history, doing developmental screenings to catch any delays as early as possible, check on immunizations, and much more. Children in the program also have access to free vision, hearing, and dental checks. The PAT program is partially funded by a grant from Boost 4 Families.

Parents who are interested in the program can contact Nancy Gibson at 712-243-7475. Referrals are also welcome—anyone who knows of a family that could benefit from participating is encouraged to call.