Funding for Parents as Teachers in peril

Lisa Scheller/Mirror photo
Mariah Dohle plays blocks with parent educator Kim Young as Young, who coordinates Parents as Teachers in this area, visits with Mariah's mother, April Dohle.
Parents as Teachers, an early-learning program for prospective parents and parents with children up to age 3, could find itself competing for funding during the state’s projected $700 million budget deficit.
Kim Young, parent educator for PAT, is concerned.
“Whenever money for public education is threatened, it directly affects Parents and Teachers,” Young said.
Richard Erickson, Tonganoxie school superintendent, said the district pays about $11,000 each year to fund its share of PAT, which is operated through the Northeast Kansas Education Service Center.
“My recommendation to the board is that we will continue to maintain that commitment to the Parents as Teachers program, at least for this next year,” Erickson said.
Young said families benefit from home visits and scheduled group playtimes.
“There are families who don’t have the options to go to Lawrence or Kansas City to get these services,” she said.
Currently, the program has a waiting list. But, Young said, all parents are welcome to bring their children to weekly play sessions Thursday mornings at the Tonganoxie library.
One child accustomed to Young’s periodic home visits is Mariah Dohle, who is 2 1/2 years old.
Last Thursday morning, Mariah greeted Young at the front door, and as soon as possible, reached into Young’s tote bag to pull out a sack of wooden blocks.
As she built castles on the coffee table, Young talked to her mother about the progress she is making. She comments on Mariah’s social skills, motor skills, language and intellectual skills.
April Dohle said she appreciates Young’s observations and the chance to ask questions about parenting.
“She spends an hour with us each visit,” Dohle said. “That’s more time than we ever spend with a pediatrician.”
- Mariah Dohle plays blocks with parent educator Kim Young as Young, who coordinates Parents as Teachers in this area, visits with Mariah’s mother, April Dohle.