NCEC Parents as Teachers serving Kanawha County

The Parents as Teachers Mission:
To provide all parents with research-based child development information, guidance, assistance, and family support to encourage the development of young children.

The Parents as Teachers Vision:
All children will learn, grow, and develop to realize their full potential.

Independent evaluations show Parents as Teachers works!

• At age 3 children are significantly more advanced in language, social development, problem solving and other cognitive abilities than comparison children
• Score higher on kindergarten readiness tests and on standardized measures of achievement in early grades

Parents as Teachers parents:

• Are more involved in their children’s schooling.
• Are more confident in their parenting role and read more to their children.

Refer to the website for the National Parents as Teachers Center at www.ParentsAsTeachers.org

• Parents as Teachers – A program for families with children from the prenatal stage of life to six years of age or Kindergarten Entry. This program provides information and ideas for activities to enhance your child’s development, information for age appropriate behavior, developmental screenings and family support through monthly home or center based visits utilizing the nationally accredited Born to Learn curriculum. Enroll your child today!
• Weekly Play Groups – Families with children from the walking stage of life to Kindergarten Entry enjoy an hour of play time and socialization, story time, music and a hot lunch from the school cafeteria. Children learn school type of behaviors as they learn to sit for story time and walk in line to the cafeteria to receive their lunch.
• Monthly Group Meetings – Topics regarding child development, healthy lifestyles and safety issues are discussed in a group setting with fun family activities.
• Developmental Screenings - Screenings are provided upon entrance to the program and then once a year on the child’s birthday. Screenings are good for detecting strengths and weaknesses in a child’s development. When red flags are detected referrals are made to an Early Intervention Program for further evaluation and treatment if needed in order to insure Kindergarten readiness.

OTHER SERVICES:

• Helping Hands Baby Pantry – Located at the Chesapeake City Hall and in partnership with the Upper Kanawha Valley Improvement Council/Capitol Resource Agency and Community Volunteers. The pantry is open on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and serves families with children sizes newborn to 5T. Other items such as household items, toys, books, formula, baby food, diapers, etc. are stocked as donations permit. The pantry runs off of community donations of new or gently used items.
• Information & Referrals –A service that links families with community services and agencies.
• Family Literacy – The Family Story Teller is an education program using children’s literature. This six week program offers free books and story stretcher activities to promote comprehension, bonding and more.
• Fall Kiddie Health and Information Fair – Provides informaiton and materials from an array of agencies about health, safety and eduction for the entrie family.  Activities such as hay rides, pumpkin decorating and more are available for families.
• Teen Pregnancy Program -  A program designed specifically for teens.  A specific research based and nationally acredited curriculum is utilized to deliver information to support teen parents through the many challanges that they may incur between being healthy and completing their unique goals.  Additionally, resources provided to teens are local resources geared to our teens.
• Circle of Parents - Circle of Parents meets on a weekly basis in the center.  It is a friendly, parent led and supportive environment. It's a place where anyone in a parenting role can openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children.  Often times parents have said they would just like to have other adults to talk to.  This program presents the perfect opportunity.  Also, available is a children's program seperate from the parents room.  Children learn social skills and enjoy children's crafts and storytime. 
• Baby Safety Shower - This event takes place in the spring and offers an array of information about the health and safety of infants with emphasis on breast feeding and safe sleep.  Exhibitors with local resources for our youngest families are avaialble. Games, food and prizes are an attraction that everyone enjoys.