Parents Praise Bourbon’s PAT Program

The Crawford County R-1 School District’s Parents As Teachers (PAT) program received high marks from parents.

The district surveyed the families who participated in the program this year and parents said it was effective, according to a year-end evaluation.

Erin Mades is the PAT coordinator and Brandi Housewright is the PAT parent educator.

Housewright visits families with varying needs throughout the year.

There were 12 families with non-high needs served and six with high needs.

“Parents feel that Mrs. Housewright is great at providing resources to help them support their child,” the report said. “She also provides great developmental activities that help work on their child’s skills and activities that allow families to bond.”

Surveys found that families looked forward to Housewright’s visits.

Housewright teaches families techniques for working with their children to attain developmental milestones and makes referrals to services that assist with the families’ additional needs.

Housewright provides developmentally appropriate activities, books and literacy tips, health and developmental screenings.

She also provides a variety of tools to help the families increase their overall family well-being.

PAT professionals work with the children to kindergarten.A study by the University of Missouri Institute found positive effects of children who participate in PAT as they go through school. 

The report showed that students who received three or more PAT annual average visits had “statistically significantly” higher rates of attendance from kindergarten through third grade, proficiency in third grade MAP ELA and proficiency in third grade MAP mathematics.

Mades said in her report they will find new activities to get more families involved in the program.