Parents Praise New PAT Partnership

The Crawford County R-1 School District continued its Parents as Teachers (PAT) program for the 2024–25 school year by partnering with the Steelville R-3 School District.

Due to difficulty filling the PAT educator position after the previous school year, Bourbon reached out to five surrounding districts for help. Ultimately, a partnership was secured with Steelville, which agreed to allow its PAT educator, Jennifer Mullen, to serve Bourbon families as well.

According to a report, Mullen received high marks for her work within the Crawford County R-1 District.

“Parents feedback from surveys rated our PAT program effective,” wrote Erin Mades, who is the coordinator. “Parents feel that Mrs. Mullen has been great working with their children and has taught families new skills to work with their child. Surveys stated that they look forward to their visits with Mrs. Mullen.”

Mullen, who continues her work in Steelville, is providing visits and services to Bourbon families both in their homes and at her school office. She brings with her a wealth of experience and has been praised for her ability to help families meet developmental milestones, access services, and build strong early childhood foundations.

Throughout the school year, Mullen has worked with families with varying needs, offering personalized developmental activities, books, literacy tips, and health screenings. Her visits are designed not only to support early learning but to strengthen overall family well-being. Parent feedback gathered through surveys described the program as highly effective, with many families saying they look forward to Mullen’s visits and have learned new ways to engage their children.

The PAT program is free and open to all families in the Bourbon district, focusing on children from birth to kindergarten. It includes home visits, group connections, developmental screenings, and referrals to community services. The goal is to increase parenting knowledge, detect potential delays early, and ensure children are ready for school.

Bourbon pays Mullen the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) rates for visits and services: $90 for high-needs visits, $70 for regular visits, $12.84 per hour for office hours, and 62.5 cents per mile. Mades is overseeing the administrative and compliance aspects of the program.

The state’s investment in PAT programs has shown results. A statewide study by the University of Missouri found that children who received three or more PAT visits annually had higher school attendance and were more proficient in third-grade English and math assessments. 

The gains were especially significant for students from low-income households and those with disabilities.

Looking ahead, Mades said they plan to continue building on this year’s success by expanding outreach and encouraging more families to participate. They also hope to maintain consistency in staffing to support families who may be sensitive to changes in routine.