Through Child Care Resource Center’s Home Visiting program, pregnant and mothers of children age 0-5 receive regular in-home visits from a certified parent educator to promote a safe and healthy home. For going above and beyond the curriculum’s essential requirements, CCRC’s Home Visiting program is proud to receive a Blue Ribbon Endorsement for our implementation of this vital family support program.
“Programs that earn the Blue Ribbon are recognized by the National Center as exemplary affiliates, delivering high-quality services to children and families,” according to the Parents as Teachers National Center.
Parents as Teachers promotes the optimal early development, learning and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers. The program also enhances parent-child relationships at home, expands parenting knowledge and skills, and optimizes child nutrition and brain development. Through the pandemic, CCRC retained about 95 percent of enrolled families by utilizing Zoom e-visits or phone calls to remain connected while keeping families and staff safe. New grants were applied to expand our Home Visiting program in the Antelope Valley, where we supported 12 new positions.
“I just can’t believe this program exists,” one mother in the program told us. “I have been telling my friends about it. They all tell me that they never heard of this. They want to know how to sign up. I’ve been telling them how much you help me.”
In order to become a Parents as Teachers affiliate, an organization must be designed to meet the Parents as Teachers model’s Essential Requirements. These requirements cover affiliate leadership, staffing, services to families, and evaluation. To earn the Blue Ribbon, affiliates must meet all of the Essential Requirements and complete a comprehensive self-study that demonstrates they are meeting at least 75% of the Quality Standards.
Our Blue Ribbon Endorsement is valid from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2024. The endorsement is similar to that of a center based accreditation and, to our knowledge, we are one of five PAT Affiliate home visiting programs in California to receive this recognition.
To participate in our Home Visiting program, families must live within the Best Start community boundaries of Antelope and San Fernando Valley. Applicants can be referred to us through the Welcome Baby program, the Department of Public Health/Department of Public Social Services, other local community agencies, or self-referred.
