Missouri Parents as Teachers Curriculum Partner Program
The Missouri Parents as Teachers (PAT) Curriculum Partner Program focuses on positive parenting, child development, maternal and child health, connections to community resources, and family economic well-being. Home visitors use a strengths-based approach to empower caregivers with skills, tools, and confidence to nurture children’s healthy growth and development. Families participate in home visits and can also attend group connections, receive annual developmental screenings, and access a resource network. The model is implemented by local school districts to foster early connections between families and schools and to facilitate smooth transitions to kindergarten.
What is the model’s approach to providing home visiting services?
Visits take place in settings that are natural and comfortable for families: homes, early childhood centers, or community spaces. Families can receive up to 12 visits per program year. Those experiencing a higher level of need can receive up to 25 visits per program year. Programs are designed to deliver services for families prenatally through kindergarten entry. The Missouri PAT Curriculum Partner Program serves all families with young children and does not recommend or require any specific family characteristics for enrollment.
Who is implementing the model?
Home Visitors
The Missouri PAT Curriculum Partner Program was implemented by 1,049 home visitors in 2024. Most (66.4 percent) had a bachelor’s degree or higher. The model requires a minimum of 5 years of experience and a high school diploma or equivalent for home visitors. Caseload limits are established by local school districts.
Supervisors
The model requires supervisors to have a teaching or administrative certificate and to complete training modules designed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Where is the model implemented?
The Missouri PAT Curriculum Partner Program was implemented by 508 school districts in 1 state in 2024.
Families Served Through Home Visiting in 2024
Mission
The Missouri PAT Curriculum Partner Program exists to provide the information, support, and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.
History
The PAT Program was established in 1981 as a pilot for first-time parents of newborns, serving 380 families across 4 Missouri school districts. Beginning in 1985, the Missouri DESE began funding the program’s evidence-based curriculum, enabling implementation across the state. In 1987, DESE established the PAT National Center as a response to the program’s growth outside of the state of Missouri. Today, the program continues to serve Missouri families—and to ensure children are healthy, safe, and ready to learn—by empowering caregivers during their children’s earliest years.